A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Sudanese Refugees in Cairo, Egypt

Approximately one third of a population exposed to mass violence develops posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and approximately half develops depression, yet little is known about how to effectively treat these populations. This study's objective was to examine the impact of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) on Sudanese refugees living in Cairo, Egypt, who had symptoms of PTSD. A randomized controlled trial (April-August 2008) with 22 Sudanese refugees in Cairo, Egypt, tested two hypotheses: (1) After IPT, participants will have fewer symptoms of depression and PTSD compared with waitlist controls. (2) After IPT, participants will have less interpersonal violence compared with waitlist controls. Participants were randomly assigned to either 6 sessions of IPT delivered by Sudanese community therapists without previous mental health training or a waitlist control group. Measures taken at baseline and trial conclusion included the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Index-II, the Conflict Tactics Scale, and the State-Trait Anger Inventory, all translated and adapted for local use. The effect sizes of IPT treatment for PTSD symptoms, depression, state anger, trait anger, and Conflict Tactics Scale-Violence Toward Household were -2.52, -2.38, -1.21, -1.43, and -0.84, respectively. IPT predicted a significant decrease in symptoms of PTSD, state anger, and depression using a conservative intent-to-treat analysis. This study represents the first randomized controlled trial of IPT to address PTSD, depression, and interpersonal violence in a refugee population. The study's preliminary success has positive implications for development of effective and sustainable mental health interventions to support the recovery of traumatized populations.