Research aim: To identify patient factors that predict psychotherapy outcome in trauma-affected refugees.

Design: The study is a secondary analysis of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial at CTP.

Population: 219 trauma-affected refugees referred for treatment at CTP.

Methods: To identify predictors of psychotherapy outcome we will examine four patient factors assessed by the psychologists at onset of psychotherapy. These factors are:

• Cognitive functioning measured on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0).
• Locus of control measured on the Locus of Control (LoC) scale adjusted to the patient population.
• Motivation for therapy measured on the Client Motivation for Therapy Scale (CMTS) adjusted to the patient population.
• Personality-related functioning measured on the Levels of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS).

The primary outcome in the study are PTSD symptoms measured on the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Other outcome measures are the Hamilton anxiety and depression scales (HAM-D and HAM-A), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS).

Primary investigator: Berglind Bernardsdóttir, Msc Psychology

Supervisors: Jessica, MD, PhD, Sabina Palic-Kapic, Msc Psychology, PhD, Hinuga Sandahl, MD, PhD

Publications

Bernardsdóttir, B., Sandahl, H., Carlsson, J., Mortensen, E. L., & Palic, S. (2023). Psychotherapy readiness domains as predictors of psychotherapy outcome in trauma-affected refugees. Journal of Affective Disorders, 325, 248-255.