Evaluation of the Teaching Recovery Techniques community-based intervention for unaccompanied refugee youth experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms (Swedish UnaccomPanied yOuth Refugee Trial; SUPpORT): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Anna Sarkadi,
Georgina Warner,
Raziye Salari,
Karin Fängström,
Natalie Durbeej,
Elin Lampa,
Zaruhi Baghdasaryan,
Fatumo Osman,
Sandra Gupta Löfving,
Anna Perez Aronsson,
Inna Feldman,
Filipa Sampaio,
Richard Ssegonja,
Rachel Calam,
Anna Bjärtå,
Anna Leiler,
Elisabet Rondung,
Elisabet Wasteson,
Brit Oppedal,
Brooks Keeshin
Affiliations
Anna Sarkadi
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Georgina Warner
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Raziye Salari
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Karin Fängström
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Natalie Durbeej
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Elin Lampa
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Zaruhi Baghdasaryan
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Fatumo Osman
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Sandra Gupta Löfving
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Anna Perez Aronsson
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Inna Feldman
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Filipa Sampaio
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Richard Ssegonja
Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University
Rachel Calam
Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester
Anna Bjärtå
Department of Psychology, Mid-Sweden University
Anna Leiler
Department of Psychology, Mid-Sweden University
Elisabet Rondung
Department of Psychology, Mid-Sweden University
Elisabet Wasteson
Department of Psychology, Mid-Sweden University
Brit Oppedal
Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Abstract Background In 2015, 162,877 persons sought asylum in Sweden, 35,369 of whom were unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs). Refugee children, especially URMs, have often experienced traumas and are at significant risk of developing mental health problems, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, which can continue years after resettlement. The Swedish UnaccomPanied yOuth Refugee Trial (SUPpORT) aims to evaluate a community-based intervention, called Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT), for refugee youth experiencing PTSD symptoms. Methods/design A randomised controlled trial will be conducted in which participants will be randomly allocated to one of two possible arms: the intervention arm (n = 109) will be offered the TRT programme, and the waitlist-control arm (n = 109) will receive services as usual, followed by the TRT programme around 20 weeks later. Outcome data will be collected at three points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2; about 8 weeks after randomisation) and follow-up (T3; about 20 weeks after randomisation). Discussion This study will provide knowledge about the effect and efficiency of a group intervention for URMs reporting symptoms of PTSD in Sweden. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN47820795. Prospectively registered on 20 December 2018.
