The impact of group counseling on depression, post-traumatic stress and function outcomes: A prospective comparison study in the Peter C. Alderman trauma clinics in northern Uganda
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of group interventions for adults with mental distress in post-conflict settings is less clear in sub-Saharan Africa. AIM: To assess the impact of group counseling intervention on depression, post-traumatic stress and function outcomes among adults attending the Peter C. Alderman Foundation (PCAF) trauma clinics in northern Uganda. METHODS: 631 War affected adults were enrolled into PCAF trauma clinics. Using a quasi-experimental design, assessments were conducted at baseline, at 3 and 6 months following initiation of care. Multivariate longitudinal regression models were used to determine change in depression, post-traumatic stress and function scores over time among group counseling participants and non-participants. RESULTS: In comparison to non-participants, participants had faster reduction in depression scores during the 6-month follow-up period [β=-1.84, 95%CI (-3.38 to -0.30), p=0.019] and faster reduction in post-traumatic stress scores during the 3-month follow-up period [β=-2.14, 95%CI (-4.21 to -0.10), p=0.042]. At 3-month follow up, participants who attended two or more sessions had faster increase in function scores [β=3.51, 95%CI (0.61-6.40), p=0.018] than participants who attended only one session. LIMITATIONS: Selection bias due to the use of non-random samples. Substantial attrition rates and small sample sizes may have resulted in insufficient statistical power to determine meaningful differences. CONCLUSION: The group counseling intervention offered in the PCAF clinics may have considerable mental health benefits over time. There is need for more research to structure, standardize and test the efficacy of this intervention using a randomized controlled trial.
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In humanitarian settings, some studies have shown benefits of counseling, whereas others have not.
“In humanitarian settings, some studies have shown benefits of counseling [24],[25], whereas others have not [26]–[28].”
From World Health Organization guidelines for management of acute stress, PTSD, and bereavement: key challenges on the road ahead (2014) · cites this paper as [25]
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- Authors
- Nakimuli-Mpungu, E., Okello, J., Kinyanda, E., Alderman, S., Nakku, J., Alderman, J. S., Pavia, A., Adaku, A., Allden, K., & Musisi, S.
- Affiliations
- Gulu University (UG)
- Makerere University (UG)
- Butabika Hospital (UG)
- Arua Regional Referral Hospital (UG)
- Dartmouth College (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-10
- Volume
- 151
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 78-84
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2059087606
- Semantic Scholar
- 4445cb08f661562abed5423ae228c97137792b42
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4
- FWCI
- 2.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Management of the Gulu, Kitgum, Arua, and Soroti Regional Referral Hospitals
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Keywords
- group counseling, depression, post-traumatic stress, functional outcome, post-conflict mental health, trauma clinic, Northern Uganda, mental health interventions
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Counseling, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychotherapy, Group, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Uganda, Treatment Outcome
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