Testimony psychotherapy in Bosnian refugees: A pilot study

Objective: The authors sought to describe the use of the testimony method o f psychotherapy in a group of traumatized adult refugees from genocide in B osnia-Herzegovina. Method: The subjects were 20 Bosnian refugees in Chicago who gave written informed consent to participate in a case series study of testimony psychotherapy. All subjects received testimony psychotherapy, av eraging six sessions, approximately 90 minutes, weekly or biweekly. Subject s received standardized instruments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD ), depression, traumatic events, global functioning, and prior psychiatric history. The instruments were administered before treatment, at the conclus ion of the treatment, and at the 2- and 6-month follow-ups. Results: The po sttreatment assessments demonstrated significant decreases in the rate of P TSD diagnosis, PTSD symptom severity, and the severity of reexperiencing, a voidance, and hyperarousal symptom clusters. Depressive symptoms demonstrat ed a significant decrease, and there was a significant increase in scores o n the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Two-month and 6-month follow- up assessments demonstrated further significant decreases in all symptoms a nd an increase in scores on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scare. Con clusions: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that testimony psy chotherapy may lead to improvements in PTSD and depressive symptoms, as wel l as to improvement of functioning, in survivors of state-sponsored violenc e.