Improving Mental Health in Rwandan Survivors of Mass Violence
Author Information
Author(s): Willem F. Scholte, Femke Verduin, Astrid M. Kamperman, Theoneste Rutayisire, Aeilko H. Zwinderman, Karien Stronks
Primary Institution: Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam
Hypothesis
The mental health of programme participants would improve significantly relative to non-participants.
Conclusion
A large scale psychosocial intervention primarily aimed at social bonding caused a lasting improvement of mental health in survivors of mass violence in Rwanda.
Supporting Evidence
- Mean SRQ-20 scores decreased by 2.3 points in the experimental group and 0.8 in the control group.
- Women in the experimental group improved by 4.8 points to below cut-off.
- Men showed a similar trend, but it was statistically non-significant.
Takeaway
This study shows that a group program helping people connect socially can make them feel better after experiencing violence.
Methodology
A prospective quasi-experimental study design with pre and post intervention measurements and an 8-month follow-up.
Potential Biases
Interviewers' knowledge of treatment conditions may have influenced results.
Limitations
The study was not randomized, and interviewers were not blind to treatment conditions.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 100 adults from both sexes, aged 15 and older, with a mix of educational backgrounds and socio-economic statuses.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.033
Confidence Interval
−2.81 to −0.38
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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