RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07015567

Treatment of Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among Displaced People in Switzerland and Germany

Contextualised, Culture-sensitive Diagnosis and Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among Displaced People in Switzerland and Germany: A Two-step Multicentric Randomised Clinical Trial

Sponsor

Eva Heim

Enrollment

288 participants

Start Date

Jan 21, 2026

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Summary

In WHO ICD-11 (its latest edition), the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were revised, and a new sibling disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) was introduced. CPTSD is a debilitating condition associated with severe, prolonged, or chronic trauma. Refugee populations are affected by high prevalence of CPTSD because of high rates of such trauma (e.g. torture). Untreated CPTSD has negative consequences for quality of life and for integration into the host society. Evidence indicates cultural variation in the phenomenology of CPTSD. Modular approaches, e.g., the Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation combined with Modified Prolonged Exposure (ESTAIR/MPE), have been recommended for the treatment of CPTSD. However, they have not been tested in a clinical trial among refugees so far and there are no available publications about their effectiveness in CPTSD symptom reduction among this population. Research suggests a higher symptom reduction of trauma-focused techniques, such as Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), among refugee population. In a previous study, the investigators pilot tested a version of ESTAIR/NET that was adapted to sociocultural and structural aspects related to psychopathology in refugee populations. The performance of these culturally adapted modules in CPTSD symptom reduction among the refugee population remains to be assessed. The present clinical trial seeks to assess the effect of the culturally adapted modules of the ESTAIR manual on symptom reduction among refugees and asylum seekers diagnosed with CPTSD.

Eligibility

Min Age: 17 Years

Inclusion Criteria5

Informed consent signature
Refugees and asylum seekers with a valid residence permit (N, F, B, or C status)
Speaking Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Pashtu, Kurdish (different dialects), or Turkish
A psychotherapy is indicated and was prescribed
Participated to part 1 of the study and was diagnosed with CPTSD on the basis of the standard International Trauma Interview and the Socio-cultural and structural addendum (SCSA). The diagnosis is done based on the clinical judgement by the local therapist.

Exclusion Criteria7

Acute psychosis
Imminent risk of suicide
Severe alcohol and/or substance abuse
Being enrolled in another psychotherapy
Inability to follow study procedures (i.e., cognitive impairment)
Inability to give informed consent
Known pregnancy

Interventions

BEHAVIORALEmotion regulation module of Enhanced Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation combined with Narrative Exposure Therapy (ESTAIR/NET)

ESTAIR is a psychotherapeutic manual for the treatment of CPTSD. The manual was adapted to the target population. It contains 24 sessions which are organised in four modules, including a module about emotion regulation. This module contains exercises for emotional awareness and emotion regulation with different focuses (on body, thoughts and behaviour).

BEHAVIORALNegative self-concept module of Enhanced Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation combined with Narrative Exposure Therapy (ESTAIR/NET)

ESTAIR is a psychotherapeutic manual for the treatment of CPTSD. The manual was adapted to the target population. It contains 24 sessions which are organised in four modules, including a module about negative self-concept. In this module, the manual tackles topics such as what is the self, thinking about the self through cognitive restructuring, criticism and compassion and the self in relation to others.

BEHAVIORALInterpersonal relationships module of Enhanced Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation combined with Narrative Exposure Therapy (ESTAIR/NET)

ESTAIR is a psychotherapeutic manual for the treatment of CPTSD. The manual was adapted to the target population. It contains 24 sessions which are organised in four modules, including a module about interpersonal relationships. This module includes exercises to understand relationship patterns, increasing assertiveness, practicing assertiveness, and managing power.

BEHAVIORALNarrative exposure therapy module of Enhanced Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation combined with Narrative Exposure Therapy (ESTAIR/NET)

ESTAIR is a psychotherapeutic manual for the treatment of CPTSD. It contains 24 sessions which are organised in four modules. The manual was adapted to the target population. In this context, the module "modified prolonged exposure" was replaced with Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). NET is a standardised approach for the treatment of PTSD that has been tested across diverse social and cultural contexts. In this intervention, patients and therapists elaborate together a chronological timeline (called "the lifeline") of patient's life and the traumatic events, using a rope, stones for traumatic events, and flowers for positive events. Thereafter, the traumatic events are discussed in detail, one in each session. At the end of each session, patients receive a written form of these narrations, co-signed by patient and the therapist.