The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of narrative exposure therapy on post-traumatic stress disorder among Syrian refugees in Jordan.

The trial was a small pilot: 40 participants were enrolled, although the planned sample was 42. It cannot establish how well NET works in a larger group. The primary outcomes were feasibility indicators, not symptom change. The symptom reductions are preliminary efficacy findings. The NET group had significantly higher depression scores at baseline than the waitlist group. This baseline difference makes it harder to attribute the post-treatment depression difference to the therapy alone. There was no follow-up after the immediate post-treatment assessment. The study cannot show whether symptom reductions lasted or whether symptoms returned. Neither participants nor the therapist were blinded. The control group received a child-rearing education lecture rather than no contact. The sample was mostly female and mostly unemployed. Results may not apply to other refugee groups. Data collection occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have affected participants' psychological state. The researchers did not adjust for multiple statistical tests because the study was exploratory. Missing data were imputed using the median of non-missing items. Analyses with and without imputation did not differ.

This study was funded by the University of Jordan Deanship of Scientific Research. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that narrative exposure therapy is proven effective for refugees with PTSD. This was a small pilot with immediate post-treatment scores only. The NET group started with higher depression scores, and the control group received a child-rearing lecture rather than no treatment. NET was also delivered as a package, so the study cannot say which component mattered.