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Asylum-Seekers' Experiences of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2012

Felicity Vincent ,
Helen Jenkins ,
Michael Larkin  and
Sue Clohessy
Felicity Vincent
Affiliation:
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Birmingham, UK
Helen Jenkins*
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, UK
Michael Larkin
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham, UK
Sue Clohessy
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, UK
*
Reprint requests to Helen Jenkins, Oxford Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology, Isis Education Centre, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. E-mail: helen.jenkins@hmc.ox.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background: Trauma-focused CBT (TFCBT) is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but little is known about whether it is an acceptable and effective treatment for asylum-seekers presenting with PTSD. Aims: This study considers the acceptability of TFCBT for asylum-seekers with PTSD by exploring their experiences of this treatment. Method: Seven asylum-seekers who had received CBT involving a TFCBT component were interviewed using a semi-structured schedule. The transcribed interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Interpretative themes were developed iteratively to closely reflect participants’ common and distinct experiences. Results: Six super-ordinate interlinking themes are discussed: Staying where you are versus engaging in therapy; Experiences encouraging engagement in therapy; Experiences impeding engagement in therapy; Importance of the therapeutic relationship; “Losing oneself” and “Regaining life”. Conclusions: Participants described their ambivalence about engaging in TFCBT. Such treatment was experienced as very challenging, but most participants also reported finding it helpful. Various experiences that appeared to encourage or impede engagement are outlined. These preliminary findings suggest that fear of repatriation can impede engagement in TFCBT, but that some asylum-seekers with PTSD still report finding TFCBT beneficial. The clinical implications are discussed, including the special importance of the therapeutic relationship.

Keywords

Asylum seekercognitive behaviour therapyPTSD
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 41 , Issue 5 , October 2013 , pp. 579 - 593
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2012 

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