Psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo (DRC)
Introduction In DRC, the North Kivu province has been plagued by recurring humanitarian crises for nearly two decades, with multiple displacements of populations triggered low intensity armed inter-communal conflicts spread throughout nearly all territories. 818,605 people (displaced, returnees an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-04-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821008634/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797616416750305280 |
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| author | E. Dozio C. Bizouerne |
| author_facet | E. Dozio C. Bizouerne |
| author_sort | E. Dozio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
In DRC, the North Kivu province has been plagued by recurring humanitarian crises for nearly two decades, with multiple displacements of populations triggered low intensity armed inter-communal conflicts spread throughout nearly all territories. 818,605 people (displaced, returnees and indigenous) affected by these movements are in alarming psychosocial vulnerability.
Objectives
In 2019, the NGO Action contre la Faim started a psychological intervention with the objective to contribute to reducing the vulnerability of conflict-affected populations.
Methods
Participants have been identified through psychoeducation sessions in the community in which people recognizing corresponding symptoms in themselves were evaluated through a short one-on-one interview. Persons identified as particularly in distress, including those who have experienced gender-based violence, have been involved in a short group therapeutic intervention. Two different options have been proposed in order to evaluate the most effective for the specific context: six sessions with a weekly or bi-weekly frequency.
Results
767 people participated in the psychosocial intervention, 457 with weekly frequency and 310 bi-weekly. The measures of post traumatic symptoms (PCL-5), anxiety and depression (HAD) and resilience (CD-RISC) show that the two approaches have the same positive effects. This is very important in volatile contexts with difficulties of access to the population due to security problems.
Conclusions
The fact that even a short intervention focused on a bi-weekly frequency, can reduce the distress and increase the psychological resilience of populations living in contexts of conflict, gives us the possibility of intervening in areas with limited access, while guaranteeing therapeutic efficacy.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:40:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14be896ebde24a6f8c4163522d55b7f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:40:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-14be896ebde24a6f8c4163522d55b7f42023-11-17T05:08:31ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S321S32210.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.863Psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo (DRC)E. Dozio0C. Bizouerne1Mental Health And Care Practices, Action Contre la Faim, Paris, FranceMental Health And Care Practices, Gender And Protection, Action contre la Faim, Paris, France Introduction In DRC, the North Kivu province has been plagued by recurring humanitarian crises for nearly two decades, with multiple displacements of populations triggered low intensity armed inter-communal conflicts spread throughout nearly all territories. 818,605 people (displaced, returnees and indigenous) affected by these movements are in alarming psychosocial vulnerability. Objectives In 2019, the NGO Action contre la Faim started a psychological intervention with the objective to contribute to reducing the vulnerability of conflict-affected populations. Methods Participants have been identified through psychoeducation sessions in the community in which people recognizing corresponding symptoms in themselves were evaluated through a short one-on-one interview. Persons identified as particularly in distress, including those who have experienced gender-based violence, have been involved in a short group therapeutic intervention. Two different options have been proposed in order to evaluate the most effective for the specific context: six sessions with a weekly or bi-weekly frequency. Results 767 people participated in the psychosocial intervention, 457 with weekly frequency and 310 bi-weekly. The measures of post traumatic symptoms (PCL-5), anxiety and depression (HAD) and resilience (CD-RISC) show that the two approaches have the same positive effects. This is very important in volatile contexts with difficulties of access to the population due to security problems. Conclusions The fact that even a short intervention focused on a bi-weekly frequency, can reduce the distress and increase the psychological resilience of populations living in contexts of conflict, gives us the possibility of intervening in areas with limited access, while guaranteeing therapeutic efficacy. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821008634/type/journal_articleDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC)short psychological interventionPTSDhumanitarian |
| spellingShingle | E. Dozio C. Bizouerne Psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo (DRC) European Psychiatry Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) short psychological intervention PTSD humanitarian |
| title | Psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo (DRC) |
| title_full | Psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo (DRC) |
| title_fullStr | Psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo (DRC) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo (DRC) |
| title_short | Psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo (DRC) |
| title_sort | psychological rapid response to population movements in democratic republic of congo drc |
| topic | Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) short psychological intervention PTSD humanitarian |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821008634/type/journal_article |
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