Cambridge University Press, British Journal of Psychiatry, 3(208), p. 252-259, 2016
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.150961
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BackgroundLittle evidence exists on the treatment of traumatised refugees.AimsTo estimate treatment effects of flexible cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressants (sertraline and mianserin) in traumatised refugees.MethodRandomised controlled clinical trial with 2×2 factorial design (registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00917397, EUDRACT no. 2008-006714-15). Participants were refugees with war-related traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and without psychotic disorder. Treatment was weekly sessions with a physician and/or psychologist over 6 months.ResultsA total of 217 of 280 patients completed treatment (78%). There was no effect on PTSD symptoms, no effect of psychotherapy and no interaction between psychotherapy and medicine. A small but significant effect of treatment with antidepressants was found on depression.ConclusionsIn a pragmatic clinical setting, there was no effect of flexible CBT and antidepressants on PTSD, and there was a small-to-moderate effect of antidepressants and psychoeducation on depression in traumatised refugees.