@article{ref1,
title="Investigating the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of using modified-written exposure therapy in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder among Afghan adolescent girls",
journal="Frontiers in psychiatry",
year="2022",
author="Ahmadi, Sayed Jafar and Musavi, Zeinab and Samim, Nasratullah and Sadeqi, Masooma and Jobson, Laura",
volume="13",
number="",
pages="e826633-e826633",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy, acceptability and feasibility of using modified written exposure therapy (m-WET) to treat symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Afghan adolescent girls in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. <br><br>METHODS: 120 Afghan (Hazara) adolescent girls who had been exposed to the Sayed al-Shuhada school terrorist attack were randomly assigned to the m-WET (n = 40), trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) (n = 40), or control groups (n = 40). m-WET involved five consecutive daily group sessions where participants simply wrote about the terrorist attack including thoughts and feelings. TF-CBT was an intensive five-session group intervention. The control group had no additional contact. The trial was undertaken at a local non-government organization in Kabul. The primary analysis was comparing PTSD symptoms (Child Revised Impact of Event Scale-13) in the three groups at post-intervention and three-month follow-up. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, participant and facilitator satisfaction with m-WET was high. Acceptability of m-WET was relatively high, with 15% drop-out in the m-WET group and all m-WET sessions were attended. While the groups did not differ significantly in PTSD symptoms at baseline, the m-WET group had significantly lower levels of PTSD symptoms compared to the control group at post-intervention and follow-up. There was no significant difference between the m-WET and TF-CBT groups. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The findings suggest m-WET may be promising intervention for the treatment of PTSD among adolescent girls in humanitarian settings. Further research in the area is warranted.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1664-0640",
doi="10.3389/fpsyt.2022.826633",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.826633"
}