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Peer-led therapy beneficial in treating war trauma

Recovery groups led by peers rather than mental health professionals may be more effective in minimizing long-term effects of war-related trauma, according to study findings in the South African Journal of Psychology.

The study focused on a camp of 2,500 people near Benghazi, an area deeply affected by a 9-month civil war that resulted in the death of about 15,000 Libyans. Researchers recruited 10 volunteer civilians who completed training and then led “Hope Groups” that met regularly for 10 weeks. The peer-led groups included 149 participants, with an average size of eight participants per group.

After 10 weeks, group members completed surveys that measured posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Data were only available from two groups. Although 19 participants completed the survey before therapy, only nine completed it after therapy. The average “symptom severity score” before beginning therapy sessions was 46, and the average score after therapy sessions was 28.3.

In the sessions, participants learned about common symptoms of trauma such as depression, trouble sleeping, anger and guilt. They were taught how to cope with crises and rebuild emotional relationships.

“The [study] findings have implications for traumatized people elsewhere, including Somalia and Ethiopia, where similar efforts have begun; and in Egypt and Uganda, where such training is to begin soon,” study researcher Matthew Stanford, PhD, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor College, said in a press release.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.