Psychological and Psychosocial Intervention With War-Affected Children

An RCT Comparing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (a Specific Psychological Intervention) and A Child Friendly Space (a Non-trauma Focused Psychosocial Intervention) in Reducing Psychological Distress Among War-affected Children

The investigators are interested in knowing whether a group-based, trauma-focused intervention (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is superior to a more general, non trauma-focused, psychosocial intervention (Child Friendly Spaces) in reducing post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety and conduct problems and increasing pro-social behavior among war-affected children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Inclusion Criteria:

• under 18 years of age,
• witness to a violent event involving a real or perceived direct threat to life,
• ability to attend a 3-week intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

• psychosis,
• mental retardation,
• inability to understand Swahili,
• severe emotional & behavioral problems that made group participation impossible