Fostering trust – a qualitative outcome study of psychodynamic group and individual psychotherapy for refugees with PTSD

Background: Refugees and asylum-seekers have an elevated risk of mental health issues, such as depression and posttraumatic stress. Qualitative outcome studies can contribute by offering insight into patients’ experiences of what they find beneficial and how they undergo the process of recovery. This study aligns with the small body of qualitative research focusing on refugees’ perspectives of psychotherapeutic treatment for PTSD.

Objective: This study investigates and compares the treatment experiences of refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in psychoanalytic group therapy (PAGT) and individual psychodynamic therapy (PDT) within an outpatient context in Sweden.

Method: 10 former patients were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed and interpreted according to the principles of grounded theory.

Results: The findings reveal distinct categories for each treatment modality, being reborn for PDT and building a home for PAGT. Being reborn involved persistent intrapersonal change and lasting improvement in posttraumatic symptoms. Building a home involved a sense of belonging, support and temporary relief from posttraumatic symptoms. Participants from both treatment modalities underscored the significance of cultivating trust in therapeutic relationships.

Conclusions: The study emphasises the necessity for tailored therapeutic approaches, contributing valuable insights to the limited research on effective mental health interventions for this population.

HIGHLIGHTS

• This study explored the experienced value of mental health interventions for refugees who have experienced traumatic events.
• Both individual and group psychotherapy were experienced as valuable, and at the core of this value was the social or relational experience with the therapist or the group.
• To experience this value, fostering a trusting relationship with either the therapist or the group was crucial.