Predictors of positive treatment outcomes for trauma-affected refugees - results from two randomised trials

Background: The treatment effects in trials with trauma-affected refugees vary considerably between studies, but also between patients within the single studies. However, we know little about why some patients benefit more... [ view full abstract ]

Background: The treatment effects in trials with trauma-affected refugees vary considerably between studies, but also between patients within the single studies. However, we know little about why some patients benefit more from treatment than others, as few studies have analysed predictors of treatment outcome. Identifying predictors of positive treatment outcomes is however important in order to be able to improve treatment results for refugee patients.

Objective: To identify predictors of treatment outcome for trauma-affected refugees.

Method: Data was derived from two trials, with a total number of 320 adult refugees with PTSD, who had all participated in a six-seven months bio-psycho-social treatment programme at the Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP), Denmark. The primary outcome measure was PTSD symptoms measured on the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Associations were analysed between pre- to post-treatment HTQ score changes and the following baseline variables: age, gender, refugee status (refugee versus being family reunified), torture exposure, previous stays in refugee camps (outside Denmark) or asylum centres (in Denmark), duration of the stay in Denmark, presence of psychotic symptoms at baseline and depression and anxiety symptom level at baseline measured by Hamilton rating scales.

Results: Preliminary bivariate analyses have shown HTQ changes to be associated with female gender, younger age, being family reunited with a refugee (vs. being a refugee), shorter duration of stay in Denmark, and lower levels of depression and anxiety at baseline. More analyses including multiple regression analyses are currently undertaken and final results will be presented at the conference.

Conclusion: Results will identify subgroups of refugee patients who do and do not benefit from a bio-psycho-social treatment programme and form the base for providing effective personalised treatment programmes for refugees on an evidence base.