Retrospective exploratory mixed methods study on the implementation of reconsolidation therapy among exiled patients
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Published on: August 24, 2012
Gwendoline Mytica Larici1, Cinzia Guarnaccia1
1Department of Psychology, Universite de Rennes 2.
Objective:
Reconsolidation therapy (RT)-Brunet method-has shown promising efficacy in reducing posttraumatic symptoms in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder. Yet its use among forcibly displaced individuals, who frequently present with complex trauma, chronic insecurity, and substantial contextual barriers, remains understudied. Exploring RT in this context represents a promising avenue for improving access to brief and structured trauma therapies in global mental health. This study examined how RT was implemented among exiled individuals receiving routine care in a health care center in France and assessed its impact on traumatic symptoms. Additional aims included exploring symptom trajectories and identifying key patient- and clinician-related factors influencing treatment delivery and outcomes.
Method:
We conducted a retrospective mixed methods exploratory study using clinical data from exiled adults treated with RT. Quantitative analyses examined changes in trauma-related symptoms across sessions. Qualitative analyses explored clinician's observations, perceived barriers, and contextual adaptations used to facilitate treatment delivery.
Results:
Patients showed overall reductions in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, although trajectories varied according to individual circumstances, trauma complexity, and contextual stressors. Clinician reported frequent real-world adaptations, including original mismatch strategies, adjustments to session structure, and linguistic accommodation within the French clinical context. Several factors, such as administrative instability, chronic stress exposure, and comorbid symptoms, appeared to shape engagement and outcomes.
Conclusions:
RT can be feasibly delivered to exiled individuals, even when they face unstable living conditions and multiple past traumatic experiences. These findings offer preliminary insights into mechanisms of engagement and response within this population and provide guidance for refining procedures and measurement strategies in future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
