Cited by 83Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMental Health Treatment and AccessMigration, Health and Trauma

World Health Organization guidelines for management of acute stress, PTSD, and bereavement: key challenges on the road ahead

Open access
Tol, Wietse A., Barbui, Corrado, Bisson, Jonathan, Cohen, Judith, Hijazi, Zeinab, Jones, Lynne, de Jong, Joop T. V. M., Magrini, Nicola +9 more·2014·PLoS Medicine

Abstract

Wietse Tol and colleagues discuss some of the key challenges for implementation of new WHO guidelines for stress-related mental health disorders in low- and middle-income countries. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This commentary outlines the key challenges facing implementation of the new WHO guidelines for conditions specifically related to stress (acute stress symptoms, PTSD, and bereavement) in low- and middle-income countries. It argues that weak evidence for commonly used interventions, scarce mental health resources, resistance to negative recommendations, limited cultural generalizability, and ongoing adversity all constrain uptake, and proposes research and capacity-building responses.

Key findings

  • The WHO Guideline Development Group found a "dearth of scientifically rigorous research" supporting many commonly used interventions; evidence was particularly poor for children and adolescents, where "for three out of 11 questions asked, no specific recommendations could be made based on existing evidence."
  • For acute traumatic stress symptoms in adults, evidence was insufficient to recommend for or against problem-solving counseling, relaxation, or psycho-education.
  • The guidelines recommend against benzodiazepines and antidepressants for acute stress and bereavement (strong recommendations for children/adolescents and for bereaved adults), and against universal structured psychological interventions for bereaved people without a mental disorder; the paper notes over-prescription of benzodiazepines and popularity of grief counseling despite lack of evidence.
  • Task-sharing evidence from randomized controlled trials suggests non-specialists can deliver psychotherapeutic interventions, but it is "uncertain whether psychotherapeutic interventions can be feasibly scaled up and sustained in naturalistic settings" lacking researcher-level resources.

Methods

  • Design: a commentary/analysis paper (not an empirical study) discussing challenges in formulating and implementing the WHO guidelines; the authors are members of the Guideline Development Group, WHO secretariat, and consultants to the guideline process.
  • Evidence base described: the GDG identified recent systematic reviews or commissioned reviews where none existed; recommendations were graded using GRADE-based methodology, with "strong" versus "standard" recommendation strength (Table 1).
  • No primary data, sample, or statistical analysis is reported; the paper synthesizes existing reviews and trials (e.g., on counseling, child-friendly spaces, and treatment under ongoing adversity).

Limitations

  • The paper does not include a formal limitations section; it is a commentary, so its claims rest on the authors' synthesis rather than new data.
  • Limitations the text itself makes evident: the underlying evidence base is described as sparse and drawn "mainly in well-resourced health settings in industrialized countries," with uncertain generalizability across sociocultural settings; knowledge on cultural concepts of distress and on treatment effectiveness under ongoing adversity is explicitly described as limited and inconsistent.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001769

Cites

37 of 37 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 25 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingreasoning

    There was insufficient evidence to recommend either in favor or against the use of problem-solving counseling, relaxation, and psycho-education for managing acute traumatic stress symptoms in adults.

    “At the outset, the GDG commissioned evidence searches for a broader set of psychological interventions to manage acute traumatic stress symptoms in adults, including problem-solving counseling, relaxation, and psycho-education. However, it was deemed that there was insufficient evidence to recommend either in favor or against the use of these interventions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    There is a dearth of scientifically rigorous research supporting many of the most commonly used interventions for managing conditions specifically associated with stress.

    “First, the Guideline Development Group (GDG) (see author contributions) discovered that there is a dearth of scientifically rigorous research supporting many of the most commonly used interventions for managing conditions specifically associated with stress.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    Randomized trials have not yet indicated whether addressing social and psychological issues simultaneously in a multilayered, multisectoral approach is more effective than single-intervention approaches.

    “However, randomized trials have not yet indicated whether this is more effective than single-intervention approaches.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning

    The limited availability of mental health resources in LMICs creates a major obstacle to implementation of new mental health recommendations.

    “Second, a key challenge is the limited availability of mental health resources in LMICs in general, creating a major obstacle to implementation of new mental health recommendations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning

    There may be major challenges in achieving changes in practice in low-resource settings where the evidence-based alternative suggests more time-intensive management strategies or where expectations of help-seekers favor pharmacological management.

    “Overall, there may be major challenges in achieving changes in practice in low-resource settings where the evidence-based alternative suggests more time-intensive management strategies or where expectations of help-seekers favor pharmacological management, as is common in many LMICs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 11
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 3
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The evidence is particularly poor for children and adolescents: for three out of 11 questions asked, no specific recommendations could be made based on existing evidence.

    “The evidence is particularly poor for children and adolescents: for three out of 11 questions asked, no specific recommendations could be made based on existing evidence.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Limited knowledge is available to guide decisions on whether to prioritize social interventions over psychotherapeutic interventions in populations exposed to ongoing adversity and whether treatments are equally effective and safe for those exposed to ongoing major stressors.

    “Limited knowledge is available to guide decisions on both issues.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Grief counseling is a popular intervention following bereavement in spite of the lack of evidence that it is necessary or effective.

    “Similarly, grief counseling is a popular intervention following bereavement in spite of the lack of evidence that it is necessary or effective [15].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [15] C Wittouck, 2011, The prevention and treatment of complicated grief: a meta-analysis, Clin Psychol Rev source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Mental health is often a low priority for governments and donors, and there is often a lack of political will to prioritize this area.

    “Mental health is often a low priority for governments and donors, and too often there is a lack of political will to prioritize this area [8].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] J Abdulmalik, 2013, Country contextualization of the mental health gap action programme intervention guide: a case study from Nigeria, PLoS Med source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Studies have revealed over-prescription of benzodiazepines in some LMIC health care settings, supporting general impressions that in humanitarian settings the prescription of benzodiazepines for symptoms of acute stress (including insomnia) and bereavement is commonplace.

    “Studies have revealed the over-prescription of benzodiazepines in some LMIC health care settings [13],[14], supporting general impressions that in humanitarian settings the prescription of benzodiazepines for symptoms of acute stress (including insomnia) and bereavement is commonplace.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [13] MJ Patel, 2013, Benzodiazepine use in medical out-patient clinics: a study from a developing country, J Pak Med Assoc

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [14] F Kapczinski, 2001, Use and misuse of benzodiazepines in Brazil: a review, Subst Use Misuse source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    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].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [24] S Ayoughi, 2012, Provision of mental health services in resource-poor settings: a randomised trial comparing counselling with routine medical treatment in North Afghanistan (Mazar-e-Sharif), BMC Psychiatry source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [25] E Nakimuli-Mpungu, 2013, 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, J Affect Disord source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [26]–[28]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A recent systematic review found no randomized controlled trials evaluating child-friendly spaces, and only one study applying a comparison group with pre- and post-intervention measurement of outcomes.

    “A recent systematic review found no randomized controlled trials evaluating this methodology, and only one study applying a comparison group with pre- and post-intervention measurement of outcomes [29].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [29] A Ager, 2013, Child friendly spaces: a systematic review of the current evidence base on outcomes and impact, Intervention (Amstelveen) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    International consensus guidelines for mental health and psychosocial interventions in humanitarian emergencies explicitly recommend identifying and building on existing supportive cultural practices where possible.

    “This is a paradox because international consensus guidelines for mental health and psychosocial interventions in humanitarian emergencies explicitly recommend identifying and building on such practices where possible [17], the evident advantages being accessibility, acceptability, and sustainability.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [17] Inter-Agency Standing Committee [IASC] (2007) IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. Geneva: IASC.

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A recent initiative to set research priorities for mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings produced a largely practice-informed research agenda that focused on a range of disorders and conditions besides PTSD, in spite of PTSD being the subject of most attention in the literature.

    “A recent initiative to set research priorities for mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings, in which there was strong representation from personnel working in LMICs, produced a largely practice-informed research agenda; notably, there was little focus on topics that have dominated debates in the peer-reviewed literature.”
    • Also stated in: § How Can These Obstacles Be Overcome? · plain
      “For example, the agenda focused on a range of disorders and conditions besides PTSD, in spite of the latter diagnosis being the subject of most attention in the literature [30].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [30] WA Tol, 2011, Research priorities for mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings, PLoS Med source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    There is some evidence that treatments can be effective in situations of ongoing adversity, whereas other studies have shown reduced treatment benefits for populations facing chronic adversity.

    “With regard to the second question, there is some evidence that treatments can be effective in situations of ongoing adversity [19],[20], whereas other studies have shown reduced treatment benefits for populations facing chronic adversity [21].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [19] JK Bass, 2013, Controlled trial of psychotherapy for Congolese survivors of sexual violence, N Engl J Med source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [20] JA Cohen, 2011, Community treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder for children exposed to intimate partner violence: a randomized controlled trial, Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [21] WA Tol, 2014, School-based mental health intervention for children in war-affected Burundi: a cluster randomized trial, BMC Med source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The new WHO recommendations on conditions specifically related to stress present an important step forward, but there will be many challenges in implementation.

    “In conclusion, although the new WHO recommendations on conditions specifically related to stress present an important step forward, there will be many challenges in implementation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The WHO guidelines include recommendations not to offer benzodiazepines for acute traumatic stress symptoms and not to offer structured psychological interventions for bereavement reactions in the absence of frank mental disorder.

    “These include, for example, recommendations not to offer benzodiazepines for acute traumatic stress symptoms, nor to offer structured psychological interventions for bereavement reactions in the absence of frank mental disorder.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [3] World Health Organization (2013) Guidelines for the Management of Conditions specifically related to Stress. Geneva: WHO.

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [4] WA Tol, 2013, Management of acute stress, PTSD, and bereavement: WHO recommendations, JAMA source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [5] World Health Organization, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2013) Assessment and Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress: mhGAP Intervention Guide Module. Geneva: WHO.

      Not checked in the free run.

12 of 12
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There is a paucity of evidence concerning the effectiveness of existing supportive cultural practices to manage stress-related conditions, such as yoga for stress management or cultural mourning practices for bereavement.

    “Furthermore, there is a paucity of evidence concerning the effectiveness of (a) interventions for specific cultural idioms or concepts of distress [16] and (b) existing supportive cultural practices to manage stress-related conditions, such as yoga for stress management, or cultural mourning practices for bereavement.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Populations affected by humanitarian crises in LMICs commonly live in settings of ongoing exposure to major stressors.

    “Finally, implementation efforts need to be more responsive to the reality that populations affected by humanitarian crises in LMICs commonly are living in settings of ongoing exposure to major stressors.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Social and economic factors impact mental health in humanitarian settings.

    “Clinical interventions are only part of the picture, given the impact of social and economic factors on mental health in these settings.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    mhGAP recommendations are based on evidence gathered mainly in well-resourced health settings in industrialized countries.

    “Fourth, mhGAP recommendations are based on evidence gathered mainly in well-resourced health settings in industrialized countries.”
4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Current evidence-based treatments generally require a substantial clinical workforce not typically available in disrupted, under-resourced health systems.

    “Current evidence-based treatments generally require a substantial clinical workforce not typically available in disrupted, under-resourced health systems. 4”

    From Guided self-help to reduce psychological distress in South Sudanese female refugees in Uganda: A cluster randomised trial (2020) · cites this paper as [4]

    In “What Are the Key Obstacles on the Road Ahead?”, the paper identifies personnel shortages in low-resource and humanitarian settings, including too few specialists to train and supervise delivery of recommended psychotherapies. But it does not say evidence-based treatments generally require a substantial clinical workforce; it also reports that non-specialists can deliver psychotherapeutic interventions. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • CBT with a trauma focus, EMDR and stress management interventions are generally recommended in the general population of adults with PTSD.

    “CBT with a trauma focus, EMDR and stress management interventions are generally recommended in the general population of adults with PTSD”

    From Efficacy and acceptability of psychosocial interventions in asylum seekers and refugees: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2019) · cites this paper as Tol et al., 2014

    The 'Why New Guidelines' section (Table 1; page unavailable) recommends trauma-focused CBT for adults with acute stress symptoms, not in the PTSD recommendation shown in our copy. The 'Key Obstacles' section (page unavailable) describes CBT and EMDR as recommended psychotherapeutic interventions, but the retrieved passages do not establish the claimed recommendation for all three interventions—including stress management—for adults with PTSD. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Targeted early interventions are especially important in low- and middle-income countries characterised by limited resources and overburdened mental health care facilities, because treatment of severe psychopathology is more resource intensive with higher costs and burden for the healthcare system.

    “Targeted early interventions are especially important in low-and middle-income countries characterised by limited resources and overburdened mental health care facilities since treatment of severe psychopathology is more resource intensive (e.g.longer duration of treatment, medical interventions, hospitalisation, management of comorbid disorders) with higher costs and burden for the healthcare”

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. World Health Organization (2005) Mental Health Atlas - Revised Edition. Geneva: WHO.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Tol, W. A., Barbui, C., Bisson, J., Cohen, J., Hijazi, Z., Jones, L., de Jong, J. T. V. M., Magrini, N., Omigbodun, O., Seedat, S., Silove, D., Souza, R., Sumathipala, A., Vijayakumar, L., Weissbecker, I., Zatzick, D., & van Ommeren, M.
Affiliations
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • University of Verona (IT)
  • Cardiff University (GB)
  • Allegheny General Hospital (US)
  • International Medical Corps (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of Ibadan (NG)
  • Stellenbosch University (ZA)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
  • Institute for Research and Development (LK)
  • Society for Nutrition Education and Health Action (IN)
  • University of Washington (US)
Corresponding author
Tol, Wietse A.
Venue
PLoS Medicine
Published
2014-12-16
Volume
11
Issue
12
Pages
e1001769
ISSN
  • 1549-1277 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-1676
OpenAlex
W2139088021
Cited by
83
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
11.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Keele Research Repository (Keele University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (submittedVersion)
  • SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Greater South Information System
Funders
  • World Health Organization
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
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
WHO guidelines, acute stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, bereavement, guideline implementation, low- and middle-income countries, mental health services
MeSH terms
Bereavement, Humans, Mental Health, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological, World Health Organization, Disease Management

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