Satisfaction of trauma-affected refugees treated with antidepressants and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Purpose: This study seeks to evaluate the satisfaction of trauma-affected refugees after treatment with antidepressants, psycho-education and flexible Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) including trauma exposure.

Material and methods: A treatment satisfaction questionnaire was completed by patients at the end of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing treatment with CBT and antidepressants. A patient satisfaction score was developed based
on the questionnaire, and predictors of satisfaction were analysed in regression
models. Telephone interviews were conducted with patients dropping out
of treatment before the end of the trial.

Results: In total, 193 trauma-affected refugees with PTSD were included in
the study. Patients were overall satisfied with flexible CBT including exposure
treatment in cases where this was part of the treatment. There was no statistically
significant association between treatment outcome and satisfaction and satisfaction and treatment efficacy were independent of each other. The results showed that bi-cultural patients who had lived in Denmark for more than a decade were satisfied with the treatment based on a western psychotherapy model.

Discussion: Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and flexible CBT, including trauma exposure, is acceptable for trauma-affected refugees. More studies are needed to evaluate patient satisfaction with western psychotherapy models in refugee patients who have recently arrived
and to compare satisfaction with alternative treatment models.