Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
Narrative Exposure Therapy for the Treatment of Traumatized Children and Adolescents (KidNET): From Neurocognitive Theory to Field Intervention
Section snippets
Current evidence and practice
Violence against children, including maltreatment at home, sexual abuse, and child labor, are common phenomena worldwide. In addition, many children are affected by violence caused by political conflicts, unrest, and war. Current wars are characterized by high levels of deliberate and systematic violence against the civilian population [1], including victimization of women and children. More than 30 countries are affected by current wars, and the populations of many now peaceful countries
Theoretical background: neurocognitive memory theory
The most prominent neurobiologic and cognitive theories of PTSD explain the development of PTSD on the basis of a pathologic distortion of the memory representations of the traumatic event [27], [28], [29], [30]. According to Tulving [31], there is a specific store of memories about past events called “episodic memory.” Episodic memory involves happenings in particular places at particular times and covers context information about “what,” “where,” and “when.” A unique feature that
The procedure of narrative exposure therapy
NET has been developed for application in crisis and postconflict regions. This context poses several challenges for a treatment approach. Because in these countries relatively few professionals are available for a high number of affected people, the treatment must be short and pragmatic. It should be easy to learn and be effective even when provided by trained laypersons or paraprofessionals with no or minimal medical or psychologic backgrounds. It should be applicable across cultures and fit
Outcome of narrative exposure therapy in children
So far, one case report and two randomized, controlled trials using NET with adults have been published [9], [82], [92]. In general, these studies with Sudanese refugees in Uganda and with survivors of political violence in Romania showed a clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and greater effectiveness than supportive counseling and psychoeducation only. Treatment effects have been maintained for up to 1 year, and the data show that within the first year after treatment the
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This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the European Refugee Fund.