Intensive Psychotherapy and Case Management for Karen Refugees in Primary Care

Effects of Intensive Psychotherapy and Case Management for Karen Refugees in Primary Care: A Randomized Control Trial

Patients in the IPCM group (n = 112) received intensive psychotherapy and case management, and those in the CAU group (n = 102) received care as usual, including behavioral health referrals and/or brief onsite interventions.

IPCM patients received routine services from both a psychotherapist and separate mental health case manager for one year; duration of each appointment was 45 minutes - 1 hour; frequency of appointments was weekly or every other week, dependent on participant availability. A face-to-face professional interpreter was utilized unless the CVT provider was a native Karen speaker.

Participants in the control group received care as usual, without CVT involvement other than administration of the outcome measures. Once randomized, CAU patients could be referred to a full range of outpatient and community-based behavioral health services by their primary care physician.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligibility criteria included Major Depression diagnosis by SCID interview, Karen refugee, ages 18-65.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria were current participation in individual psychotherapy or case management, psychosis, or substance use problems on the CAGE-AID.