INTRODUCTION Trauma-affected refugees are at high risk of developing mental health problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. In addition to traumatic stress, refugees are furthermore subject to a range of post-migration stressors e.g. unemployment, poor finances and language difficulties. These stressors can moderate or exacerbate mental health outcomes in refugees. Cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination of municipal social interventions and regional mental health services are currently limited. The overall aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a psychosocial treatment with a focus on social stressors in an integrated cross-sectoral collaboration with the municipality for trauma-affected refugees MATERIALS AND METHODS The study is being conducted at Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP) in Denmark. Included in the study are refugees with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who are unemployed and attending a municipal job centre in one of the five collaborating municipalities. Approximately 200 patients will be included. The randomised controlled trial is comparing treatment as usual (TAU) comprising 10 sessions with a medical doctor (pharmacological treatment and psycho-education) and 16-21 sessions with a psychologist (manual-based cognitive behavioural therapy) with add-on of the social intervention. Overall, the intervention seeks to integrate working with social stressors alongside treatment for trauma-related mental health problems. This is done in two ways; by a cross-sectoral collaboration with municipality through collaborative meetings and by a systematic focus on social stressors during the treatment. The primary outcome is functioning, measured by WHODAS 2.0 12 item version together with a variety of secondary outcomes measuring mental health symptoms, quality of life and degree of social stressors. RESULTS The study is expected to bring forward new perspectives and knowledge on psychosocial treatment of trauma-affected refugees as well as cross-sectoral collaboration.
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0), interviewer administered 12-item version
Timeframe: Change from baseline to end-of-treatment after approximately 10 months