Eastern DRC Study: Trauma-Focused Therapy Shows Promise for Ex-Combatants with Histories of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Kinshasa, DRC – A new sub-analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) reveals that Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), a specialized psychotherapy, effectively reduces posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, aggression, and violent behavior in male former soldiers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), even among those with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The findings, stemming from research originally published by Koebach et al.in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology [2021], highlight the critical need to address early trauma in post-conflict rehabilitation programs.
The study categorized former soldiers into groups based on CSA history,assessing lifetime sexual assaults,perpetration of sexual violence,appetitive aggression,current violent behavior,and symptoms of PTSD and depression. Researchers found significantly higher rates of re-experiencing sexual assaults – particularly by superiors - and perpetrating sexual assaults among those with a history of CSA. This group also exhibited elevated baseline scores across all measured outcomes.
While both groups benefited from treatment,the NET group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in appetitive aggression,PTSD symptoms,and depressive symptoms compared to those receiving treatment as usual (TAU). Notably, individuals with a history of CSA showed superior improvements in current violent behavior with NET, achieving comparable scores to those without CSA after 6-9 months of treatment.
Researchers concluded that CSA is significantly associated with increased risk of revictimization and perpetration of violence. The success of NET in this complexly traumatized population is likely due to it’s ability to address trauma and perpetration chronologically and adapt to the specific challenges of CSA, ultimately contributing to violence reduction in post-conflict communities. The study underscores the importance of addressing revictimization during the rehabilitation of ex-combatants.
