Evaluating a multiple-family group access intervention for refugees with PTSD

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Trauma Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Refugee populations often face significant barriers to accessing mental health services.
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among refugees due to trauma exposure.
• Family dynamics play a crucial role in refugee mental well-being and treatment engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multiple-family group intervention in enhancing mental health service access for refugees with PTSD.
• To identify mediators of the intervention's effect on service utilization and mental health outcomes.
• To inform the development of culturally sensitive, evidence-based interventions for refugee families.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 197 adults with PTSD and their families from Bosnia-Herzegovina in Chicago.
• Participants were assigned to either a nine-session "Coffee and Families Education and Support" multiple-family group or a control condition.
• Mediation analysis was used to examine the roles of depression and family comfort in discussing trauma.

Main Results:

• The multiple-family group intervention significantly increased access to mental health services for refugee families.
• Lower levels of depression and increased family comfort with discussing trauma were found to mediate the intervention's positive effects.
• The intervention demonstrated promise in addressing the unique needs of refugee families experiencing PTSD.

Conclusions:

• Multiple-family group interventions are effective in improving mental health service access for refugees with PTSD.
• Addressing depression and fostering family communication about trauma are key pathways for intervention success.
• Further research is essential to develop and validate evidence-based family interventions for diverse refugee populations.