Narrative Exposure Therapy for PTSD in Vulnerably Housed Individuals
Status: Completed
Project Lead: Dr. Simon Hatcher (PI)
Main Research Contact: Nicole Edgar
Funded By: The Royal
In 2015, 6,825 people in Ottawa were living in emergency shelters and an estimated 500 people were living on the streets. There is a high rate of mental health disorders among this population, including high rates of trauma and PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, and psychosis. This is further complicated by a lack of access to care among the precariously housed. To address this, we conducted a feasibility study which compared narrative exposure therapy (NET) to NET plus a session with a genealogist.
The main goals of this study were to:
Determine whether it is feasible to deliver this intervention to vulnerably housed populations.
Determine whether this intervention is acceptable to those who are vulnerably housed.
Determine whether the intervention had an impact on overall health as well as mental health outcomes, including PSTD symptoms, substance abuse, and quality of life.
To read more about this study, please visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03781297.