Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children: preliminary evidence regarding efficacy
Background: There is a dearth of therapeutic solutions for traumatized young patients. Trauma reactivation conducted under the influence of the reconsolidation blocker propranolol (Reconsolidation Therapy) is a simple, cost-effective treatment option that has some promising initial results in adults...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2020-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1733248 |
| _version_ | 1828065748865515520 |
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| author | Sarah Thierrée Sami Richa Alain Brunet Laurine Egreteau Quentin Roig David Clarys Wissam El-Hage |
| author_facet | Sarah Thierrée Sami Richa Alain Brunet Laurine Egreteau Quentin Roig David Clarys Wissam El-Hage |
| author_sort | Sarah Thierrée |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: There is a dearth of therapeutic solutions for traumatized young patients. Trauma reactivation conducted under the influence of the reconsolidation blocker propranolol (Reconsolidation Therapy) is a simple, cost-effective treatment option that has some promising initial results in adults suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Objective: To explore the usefulness of this novel treatment in children. The primary outcome was the reduction of PTSD symptoms at the end of treatment, while secondary outcomes included reduction in anxiety and in depressive symptoms. Method: An open-label clinical trial was conducted in a refugee camp in Syria, investigating the safety and efficacy of this therapeutic strategy in 117 children suffering from enduring PTSD symptoms. Participants received propranolol 90 minutes before briefly recalling (i.e. reactivating) a single personal traumatic memory, for 5 consecutive days. Self-reported anxiety, depressive, and PTSD symptoms were assessed at baseline, as well as 4 and 13 weeks after treatment. Results: A significant, clinically meaningful symptom reduction was observed at all post-treatment measurement times vs. baseline. More specifically, between baseline and the 13-week follow-up we observed a 64% PTSD symptoms reduction (d = 2.71). In a similar vein, we obtained a 39% symptoms reduction for depressive symptoms (d = 1.01). The general anxiety symptoms improved, but eventually returned to prior level, probably because of the deteriorating living conditions in the camp. Conclusions: This therapy appeared as a potentially safe and useful treatment strategy for children suffering from PTSD symptoms, warranting replication studies using stronger study designs. The social acceptability and ease of implementation of the treatment should also be noted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:18:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-997a9d328eb242dc8936843ea81e9886 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:18:55Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-997a9d328eb242dc8936843ea81e98862023-01-12T15:31:32ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662020-12-0111110.1080/20008198.2020.17332481733248Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children: preliminary evidence regarding efficacySarah Thierrée0Sami Richa1Alain Brunet2Laurine Egreteau3Quentin Roig4David Clarys5Wissam El-Hage6UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, InsermSaint-Joseph UniversityMcGill UniversityCHRU de ToursNo Lost GenerationUniversité de PoitiersUMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, InsermBackground: There is a dearth of therapeutic solutions for traumatized young patients. Trauma reactivation conducted under the influence of the reconsolidation blocker propranolol (Reconsolidation Therapy) is a simple, cost-effective treatment option that has some promising initial results in adults suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Objective: To explore the usefulness of this novel treatment in children. The primary outcome was the reduction of PTSD symptoms at the end of treatment, while secondary outcomes included reduction in anxiety and in depressive symptoms. Method: An open-label clinical trial was conducted in a refugee camp in Syria, investigating the safety and efficacy of this therapeutic strategy in 117 children suffering from enduring PTSD symptoms. Participants received propranolol 90 minutes before briefly recalling (i.e. reactivating) a single personal traumatic memory, for 5 consecutive days. Self-reported anxiety, depressive, and PTSD symptoms were assessed at baseline, as well as 4 and 13 weeks after treatment. Results: A significant, clinically meaningful symptom reduction was observed at all post-treatment measurement times vs. baseline. More specifically, between baseline and the 13-week follow-up we observed a 64% PTSD symptoms reduction (d = 2.71). In a similar vein, we obtained a 39% symptoms reduction for depressive symptoms (d = 1.01). The general anxiety symptoms improved, but eventually returned to prior level, probably because of the deteriorating living conditions in the camp. Conclusions: This therapy appeared as a potentially safe and useful treatment strategy for children suffering from PTSD symptoms, warranting replication studies using stronger study designs. The social acceptability and ease of implementation of the treatment should also be noted.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1733248traumatic stresspropranololtreatmentrefugeesreconsolidationwarchildren |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Thierrée Sami Richa Alain Brunet Laurine Egreteau Quentin Roig David Clarys Wissam El-Hage Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children: preliminary evidence regarding efficacy European Journal of Psychotraumatology traumatic stress propranolol treatment refugees reconsolidation war children |
| title | Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children: preliminary evidence regarding efficacy |
| title_full | Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children: preliminary evidence regarding efficacy |
| title_fullStr | Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children: preliminary evidence regarding efficacy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children: preliminary evidence regarding efficacy |
| title_short | Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children: preliminary evidence regarding efficacy |
| title_sort | trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized syrian refugee children preliminary evidence regarding efficacy |
| topic | traumatic stress propranolol treatment refugees reconsolidation war children |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1733248 |
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