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This book is the first practical manual describing a new and successful short-term treatment for traumatic stress and PTSD called Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). The manual provides both experienced clinicians and trainees with all the knowledge and skills needed to treat trauma survivors using this approach, which is especially useful in crisis regions where longer-term interventions are not possible. NET has proved successful in projects in areas such as Kosova, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Nigeria, as well as in controlled trials in Gainesville, FL and Louvain, Belgium. Three to six sessions can be sufficient to afford considerable relief. Part I of the manual describes the theoretical background. Part II covers the therapeutic approach in detail, with practical advice and tools. Part III then focuses on special issues such as dealing with challenging moments during therapy, defense mechanisms for the therapist, and ethical issues. A series of appendices include further practical aides such as a handout on depression, a drug-dependency questionnaire, and an informed consent form. A practical manual describing a new and successful short-term intervention for stress disorders

Abstract Background Political instability and the civil war in Southern Sudan have resulted in numerous atrocities, mass violence, and forced migration for vast parts of the civilian population in the West Nile region. High exposure to traumatic experiences has been particularly prominent in the Ugandan and Sudanese of the West Nile Region, representing an indication of the psychological strain posed by years of armed conflict. Methods In this study the impact of traumatic events on the prevalence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a random sample of 3.339 Ugandan nationals, Sudanese nationals, and Sudanese refugees (1.831 households) of the West Nile region is assessed. Results Results show a positive correlation between the number of traumatic events and the number of endorsed PTSD symptoms. Of the 58 respondents who experienced the greatest number of traumatizing experiences, all reported symptoms which met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. Conclusions There is a clear dose-effect relationship between traumatic exposure and PTSD in the studied populations with high levels of traumatic events. In this context, it is probable that any individual could develop PTSD regardless of other risk-factors once the trauma load reaches a certain threshold.