​Research aim: The study aims to examine the impact of interpreter-mediated psychotherapy on treatment outcomes for trauma-affected refugees. It investigates whether the use of interpreters affects the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients diagnosed with PTSD.

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing treatment outcomes between two groups: those who received interpreter-mediated psychotherapy and those who did not.

Population: The study population includes 825 trauma-affected refugees who were treated at CTP.

Methods: Patients underwent 16 sessions of CBT, and data were collected using a range of standardized rating scales. Outcomes were measured in terms of PTSD severity (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire), depression, anxiety, quality of life, and functioning. Statistical analyses compared pre- and post-treatment outcomes between those with and without interpreter use, controlling for various covariates.

Primary investigator: Rikke Sander, MD

Supervisors: Henriette Attardo, Msc Public Health, Signe Skammeritz, MD, PhD, Erik Lykke Mortensen, Msc Psychology, PhD, Jessica Carlsson, MD, PhD

Publications

Sander, R., Laugesen, H., Skammeritz, S., Mortensen, E. L., & Carlsson, J. (2019). Interpreter-mediated psychotherapy with trauma-affected refugees–A retrospective cohort study. Psychiatry research, 271, 684-692.

Jensen, R. S., Hansen, T. M. N., & Carlsson, J. M. (2017). Effekt af brug af tolk i psykoterapi. Ugeskrift for læger [online], 179(21)