Citation link: http://dx.doi.org/10.25819/ubsi/9958
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Dokument Type: Article
metadata.dc.title: Life review therapy for holocaust survivors (LRT-HS): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Forstmeier, Simon 
van der Hal, Elisheva 
Auerbach, Martin 
Maercker, Andreas 
Brom, Danny 
Institute: Department Erziehungswissenschaft · Psychologie 
Free keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorder, Depression, Prolonged grief, Life review therapy, Holocaust survivors, Reminiscence, Narrative exposure, Randomised controlled trial
Dewey Decimal Classification: 150 Psychologie
GHBS-Clases: HTE
HVQP
HVRA
Issue Date: 2020
Publish Date: 2021
Source: BMC Psychiatry ; 20, 186. - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02600-5
Abstract: 
Background
The Holocaust was one of the most traumatic catastrophes in recorded human history. Survivors seeking psychotherapeutic help today, now in their seventies and older, often show symptoms of a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or prolonged grief disorder. Established psychological treatments for PTSD (e.g. cognitive behaviour therapy, psychodynamic therapies) have been tested and assessed mainly with young and middle-aged adults; only very few studies examined them in old age. There is no therapy outcome study known to us for any treatment mode for Holocaust survivors. Moreover, there is a need for an age group-specific treatment of PTSD and other stress-related mental disorders. A narrative approach including life-review and narrative exposure seems to meet very well the natural need of older people to review their lives and is highly effective. However, most studies on the efficacy of life review therapy (LRT) focus on late-life depression. There is a lack of efficacy studies evaluating the effect of LRT on PTSD symptoms in older individuals that have experienced traumatic events.

Methods
The main goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of LRT for Holocaust survivors (LRT-HS) on symptoms of PTSD and related mental health problems (depression, anxiety, prolonged grief), compared to a supportive control group. A secondary goal is to identify the characteristics of participants that seem to especially benefit from the treatment. The proposed study is a randomised, controlled follow-up trial including Holocaust survivors with one or more trauma-related disorders. The LRT treatment consists of 20–25 sessions. Before and after the treatment phase, participants in both conditions will be assessed. Follow-up will take place 6 months after the treatment. A sample size of 80 is required (drop-out rate included).

Discussion
Efficacious treatments for trauma-related disorders in older people are of high importance, also because the probability of traumatisation and loss increases with age. Because this study is conducted with this specific group of multiply traumatised people, we are convinced that the results can easily transfer to other samples.
Description: 
Finanziert aus dem Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der Universität Siegen für Zeitschriftenartikel
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25819/ubsi/9958
URN: urn:nbn:de:hbz:467-19441
URI: https://dspace.ub.uni-siegen.de/handle/ubsi/1944
Appears in Collections:Geförderte Open-Access-Publikationen

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