The Feasibility of Cognitive Process Therapy in Earthquake-affected Population With Mental Health Problems in Türkiye

Launched by KOÇ UNIVERSITY · Nov 13, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a therapy called Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to see if it can help people in Türkiye who are experiencing mental health problems after the earthquakes in February 2023. The researchers want to find out if CPT can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, while also improving overall well-being. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive this therapy or continue with usual care, which means they won’t get the therapy but will have access to standard support. This study is an important first step to understand the therapy's effectiveness before further testing it on a larger group.

To participate in this study, individuals must be 18 years or older and have been directly affected by the earthquakes, either by experiencing them firsthand or knowing someone who was impacted. They should also have a certain level of PTSD symptoms, as measured by a specific checklist. However, people with serious medical conditions, those at risk of suicide, or those with severe mental health issues will not be eligible. If you join the trial, you can expect to receive either the therapy or standard care, and the researchers will assess how you feel after the treatment to see how well it worked.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 18 years or above
• • Individuals who were directly impacted by earthquakes in Turkey, in February 2023, learned that the earthquakes significantly impacted a close family member or close friend, or who were exposed to aversive details of the earthquake as part of their job.
• • Scoring greater than 47 on the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Check List for PTSD symptoms
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Acute medical conditions
• • Imminent suicide risk
• • Expressed acute needs/protection risks
• • Indications of severe mental disorders (e.g., psychotic disorders) or cognitive impairment (e.g., severe intellectual disability)
• • Severe cognitive impairment (e.g., severe intellectual disability or dementia)