Res Psychother. 2024 Aug 27;27(2). doi: 10.4081/ripppo.2024.796.

ABSTRACT

The need to develop psychotherapists’ skills to respond to current treatment challenges, such as addressing trauma due to the refugee crisis, is increasing. However, there is a dearth of evidencebased training for psychotherapists who work with refugees, especially in frontline countries. A randomly selected sample of 80 clinicians working with unaccompanied minors (UAMs) in Greek accommodation centers nationwide participated in an intensive trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) training (n=44) or a control-group (n=36) and completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale, the Work and Meaning Inventory and a questionnaire to assess knowledge and therapeutic skills, in pre-andpost measurements. Clinicians with 1-3 years of experience with refugees reported higher burnout (p=0.012, M=25.78 vs M=22.04) and secondary traumatic stress than those with less than a year (p=0.014, M=22.03 vs M=18.04). Positive meaning at work increased in both groups at post-test (TF-CBT group: p=0.019, M=15 vs M=13.6, and control group: p<0.001, M=15.17 vs M=13.42). The TF-CBT training group outperformed the control group in knowledge and skills (p=0.021, M=10.15 vs M=8.75) and identified a lower number of children with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (p=0.009, M=6.94 vs M=4.33) post-training. This study provides preliminary evidence on TF-CBT training effectiveness in equipping psychotherapists to work with UAMs, while their professional quality of life warrants further research.

PMID:39221907 | DOI:10.4081/ripppo.2024.796