@article {4931, title = {Mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings: linking practice and research}, journal = {Lancet}, volume = {378}, number = {9802}, year = {2011}, note = {Tol, Wietse A
Barbui, Corrado
Galappatti, Ananda
Silove, Derrick
Betancourt, Theresa S
Souza, Renato
Golaz, Anne
van Ommeren, Mark
eng
K01 MH077246/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/
Comparative Study
Review
England
2011/10/20 06:00
Lancet. 2011 Oct 29;378(9802):1581-91. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61094-5. Epub 2011 Oct 16.}, month = {Oct 29}, pages = {1581-91}, abstract = {This review links practice, funding, and evidence for interventions for mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in humanitarian settings. We studied practice by reviewing reports of mental health and psychosocial support activities (2007-10); funding by analysis of the financial tracking service and the creditor reporting system (2007-09); and interventions by systematic review and meta-analysis. In 160 reports, the five most commonly reported activities were basic counselling for individuals (39\%); facilitation of community support of vulnerable individuals (23\%); provision of child-friendly spaces (21\%); support of community-initiated social support (21\%); and basic counselling for groups and families (20\%). Most interventions took place and were funded outside national mental health and protection systems. 32 controlled studies of interventions were identified, 13 of which were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that met the criteria for meta-analysis. Two studies showed promising effects for strengthening community and family supports. Psychosocial wellbeing was not included as an outcome in the meta-analysis, because its definition varied across studies. In adults with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), meta-analysis of seven RCTs showed beneficial effects for several interventions (psychotherapy and psychosocial supports) compared with usual care or waiting list (standardised mean difference [SMD] -0.38, 95\% CI -0.55 to -0.20). In children, meta-analysis of four RCTs failed to show an effect for symptoms of PTSD (-0.36, -0.83 to 0.10), but showed a beneficial effect of interventions (group psychotherapy, school-based support, and other psychosocial support) for internalising symptoms (six RCTs; SMD -0.24, -0.40 to -0.09). Overall, research and evidence focuses on interventions that are infrequently implemented, whereas the most commonly used interventions have had little rigorous scrutiny.}, keywords = {*Altruism, *Biomedical Research, *Mental Health, Academic Medical Centers, Adult, Connecticut, Counseling, Female, Humans, Interdisciplinary Communication, Male, Mental Disorders/economics/*therapy, Mental Health Services/*organization \& administration, Practice Patterns, Physicians{\textquoteright}, Program Evaluation, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychology, Psychotherapy/economics/methods, Treatment Outcome}, isbn = {1474-547X (Electronic)
0140-6736 (Linking)}, author = {Tol, W. A. and Barbui, C. and Galappatti, A. and Silove, D. and Betancourt, T. S. and Souza, R. and Golaz, A. and van Ommeren, M.} }