Video NET with CYP who witnessed domestic violence v 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Video Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) with children and young people who witnessed domestic violence: A naturalistic single case study series
IRAS ID
291108
Contact name
Thomas Schröder
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 28 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Research suggests that children and young people (CYP) who witness domestic violence are susceptible to develop Post-traumatic stress (PTS). As their traumatic experiences are often repeated and prolonged, these CYP are likely to present with 'complex trauma' presentations, which also include other difficulties such as depressive symptoms and problems in functioning.This study aims to investigate whether Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) delivered via videoconferencing can be effective, feasible, and acceptable for CYP who witnessed domestic violence. NET is a brief, evidence-based intervention for complex trauma which has been adapted for CYP. The study will use a 'single case study series' design and look at whether NET can impact on PTS, psychological distress, and functioning. It will also look at the processes of change within NET and participants’ experience of the therapy. Young people aged 12-17 who are experiencing PTS after exposure to domestic violence will be recruited from the waiting lists of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Up to six participants will receive six to ten weekly video sessions and the changes in the outcomes will be explored before, during and after NET. Finally, participants will be interviewed about their experiences.
The study is part of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme and funded by Health Education England. Potential benefits include investigating NET with a new group, contributing to the research on complex trauma interventions for CYP, and providing insights on the effectiveness and acceptability of therapies via video.
Summary of Research
Research suggests that children and young people who witness domestic violence can develop post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and other mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety symptoms. Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is a brief psychological therapy that was designed to help survivors of multiple or prolonged trauma and was recently adapted for young people.In this study, we investigated whether NET, delivered via videoconferencing, could help young people who witnessed domestic violence and were seeking support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the UK. We used a ‘single case study series’ design, namely we tracked changes in PTSS and general psychological distress before, during, and after NET in a small group of young people. We also looked at whether there were any changes in participants’ traumatic memories and heart rates during the NET sessions, and interviewed young people about their experience of the therapy.
Five female adolescents (aged 13-17) attended 4-10 video sessions of child-friendly NET. At the end of therapy, all participants showed changes in PTSS that were moderate to very large, and indicated reliable improvement for three of them. Changes were more modest for general psychological distress and were reliable for only one participant. Three participants also showed positive changes in their traumatic memories (for example, these events were easier to talk about). Heart rates within each session declined for all participants with available data; for two young people, they also declined across sessions. Two young people completed the interviews; building a timeline of their lives was mentioned as a helpful aspect of NET, the video delivery was considered both a facilitator and a barrier to engagement, and positive and mixed changes were described.
These findings show that NET can be a helpful therapy for young people who witnessed domestic violence. However, future research with more control and lager samples are needed to confirm these findings. Future studies may also investigate other questions, such as the impact of the video delivery and whether changes are maintained in the long term.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/EM/0054
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion