Assessment of a Brief Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Intervention for Use in Botswana

Last updated: August 29, 2021
Sponsor: University of Botswana
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Post-traumatic Stress Disorders

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

NCT04426448
UBR/RES/IRB/BIO/179
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to culturally adapt a brief psychological intervention for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assess its efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability in a pilot trial. The intervention has been shown to be efficacious among individuals with comorbid severe mental illness (SMI) and PTSD.

The study will be conducted in three phases. The first phase will determine a description of trauma and responses to traumatic experiences among patients with severe mental illness. The first phase of the study will also determine participants' and mental health care providers' perceptions of suitable PTSD interventions in this middle-income context. The findings will then be used to culturally adapt the brief intervention in the second phase. A pilot trial will be conducted in the third phase of the study.

Participants with comorbid SMI and PTSD will be randomized into two groups (n= 20 intervention group, n= 20 control group). Outcomes of the intervention such as the severity of PTSD symptoms, knowledge about PTSD will be assessed at baseline and at different timelines during the study.

This study will fill the knowledge gap on trauma and its consequences among individuals with severe mental illness in Botswana, it will also contribute to the improvement of clinical practice in the management of PTSD and SMI.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Able to understand Setswana or English
  • The patient must meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifthedition (DSM-5) criteria for any SMI as categorized for this study (schizophrenia,schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar mood disorder, and severedepressive disorder)
  • The patient should meet the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as assessedwith the Post Traumatic Checklist-5 (PCL-5)

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Currently engaged in psychotherapy for PTSD
  • On pharmacotherapy management of PTSD (to control for medication effects on PTSDsymptoms)
  • Inability to understand informed consent
  • Inability to respond to interview questions
  • Patients who have suicidal ideation and history of a suicide attempt within the past 6months

Study Design

Total Participants: 40
Study Start date:
July 08, 2020
Estimated Completion Date:
September 29, 2021

Study Description

Study participants will be recruited from Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital, the only referral psychiatric hospital in Botswana. The hospital population is representative of the culturally diverse Botswana nation because patients with severe mental illness from the entire country are admitted to the hospital. Forty participants (40) will be recruited and randomized to receive the Brief Relaxation, Education, And Trauma HEaling (BREATHE) intervention or treatment as usual.

The intervention will be delivered by the Principal Investigator who has received training from the intervention developer. Supervision will be provided telephonically.

The BREATHE intervention will be delivered weekly for each participant for a total of three weeks and 4 participants will be enrolled per group resulting in a total of 5 groups. The estimated period of intervention delivery and data collection is therefore expected to last for a period of ~15 weeks.

Outcomes such as anxiety, depressive and PTSD Symptoms, and knowledge about PTSD will be assessed before participants receive the intervention, weekly (following each treatment session), month one and month three after treatment completion. Assessment of feasibility and acceptability will be done at treatment completion with the intervention group. Participants on the control arm will receive outcome measures at the same time points as those receiving the intervention. The investigators will utilize an objective assessment of skin conductance which has been shown to be greater in individuals with PTSD than in individuals without PTSD and similarly increased during a trauma interview in individuals with PTSD compared to individuals who do not have PTSD.

Connect with a study center

  • Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital

    Lobatse, 0000
    Botswana

    Active - Recruiting

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