Assessment of Narrative Exposure Therapy on the Psychological Trauma Symptoms of Victims of Violent Community Attacks

Abstract

This study carried out an assessment of narrative exposure therapy on the psychological trauma symptoms of victims of violent community attacks.  They were using a between-group pre/post-experimental design.  Participants were 32 randomly selected, 16 in the control and intervention groups.  The mean age of the participants (n = 32) was 43.2 years (SD = 11.5), comprising 24 males and eight females.  The Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC-40) was used as a measure of psychological trauma symptoms.  Psychological trauma symptoms were assessed for study groups (Control and Intervention) at the pretest, after which the intervention group was exposed to Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), and psychological trauma symptoms were assessed (Posttest) for both groups.  The one-way Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to test the efficacy of NET on psychological trauma symptoms.  Results revealed that MANOVA output indicated a significant effect of NET on the combined dimensions, Wilks' Lambda = .397, F(6, 25) = 6.327, p < .001, partial η² = .603.  Furthermore, NET significantly reduced Dissociation (p < .001), Anxiety (p <.05), Depression (p <.05), and Sleep Disturbance (p <.05). However, no significant reduction of SATI (p > .05), and Sexual Problems (p > .05).  These findings highlight the significant impact of NET in reducing Dissociation, Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Disturbance symptoms among victims of violent attack.  The study recommended the incorporation of NET into standard therapeutic protocols for trauma survivors experiencing Dissociation, Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Disturbances following violent community attacks.

Keywords: Narrative Exposure Therapy, Trauma symptoms, Dissociation, Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disturbance, Sexual Abuse Trauma Index, Sexual Problems