LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University ...

LVR-KLINIKUM DÜsseLDORF – hOsPITaL OF The heINRIch-heINe UNIVeRsITY DÜsseLDORF
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Before 1 year after
treatment treatment
Figure 29 a: General mental impairment measured as
GSI value of SCL-90-R in traumatised refugees before
and after psychotherapy compared with the waiting
group
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Figure 29 b: Development of trauma symptoms (PTSD)
in refugees before and after psychotherapy compared
with the waiting group
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Figures 29 a–c: Snapshot of illness symptoms after 25
hours of mother-tongue, trauma-specific, stabilising
psychotherapy in traumatised refugees; the complete
study results can be found in Kruse et al. Effects of
trauma-focused psychotherapy upon war refugees.
Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2009: 22 (6) 585-592
150
GSI pre/post comparison
PTSD pre/post comparison
Before 1 year after
treatment treatment
SOMS pre/post comparison
Before 1 year after
treatment treatment
Psychotherapy group
Waiting group
Figure 29 c: Physical symptoms (SOMS) in refugees
before and after psychotherapy compared with the
waiting group
3.2.1.3 Somatoform disorders
Director: J. Kruse, W. Tress
Within the context of a multi-centre, randomised controlled study, the
research group is investigating the effects of psychodynamic shortterm
psychotherapy on patients with multi-somatoform disorders. The
intervention targets an increase in the health-related quality of life, a change
in self-perception and understanding of symptoms, and a reduction of an
individual’s psychophysiological stress reactivity. The study is funded by
the DFG as part of the “Clinical studies” programme. The study group is
simultaneously looking at the attachment styles of these patients using
cross-sectional studies. Various methods are used (HAI interview, Bochumer
Bindungsbogen), which have been co-developed and evaluated by coworkers
of the study. The research group also investigated the effects
of childhood traumatisation in patients with somatoform pain disorders,
providing evidence for a high rate of post-traumatic stress disorders in
this patient group and documenting the fact that, in particular, traumaassociated
symptoms determine illness behaviour in these patients.
3.2.1.4 Psychotraumatology
Director: J. Kruse, W. Tress
Personnel: H.-J. Bernard, J. Bierwirth, M. Cavka, L. Joksimovic, M. Schröder
The research group is focussing on the trauma-associated disorders and
treatment opportunities in refugees and migrants from former Yugoslavia.
Within the context of a project funded by the faculty of medicine, the
research group has identified the effects of the stabilisation phase of a
trauma-specific psychotherapy. Despite insecure residency status and
extreme traumatisation, the research group succeeded in reducing the
mental burden of these patients. This work led to a collaboration with the
psychosocial centre for refugees, within which, in the context of the EUfunded
programme “Life after torture”, the research group has received a
research grant from the European Union for the care of and the evaluation
of the care of torture victims. Another focus of the research group is
investigating the close connection of post-traumatic stress disorder with
somatoform disorders in this patient group. The high comorbidity is another
indication of the need for the conceptualisation of a complex post-traumatic
disorder.