Narrative exposure group therapy for posttraumatic stress symptoms among a small group of internally displaced women in Ethiopia: An uncontrolled pre–postintervention study.

The number of internally displaced children and women in Ethiopia has increased over the past 5 years following the ethnic conflict exacerbated by the North Ethiopian War, reaching its apex in 2021. Women and girls experience various traumatic conditions before, during, and after internal displacement. Recent scholarly attention has focused on the traumatic experiences of internally displaced women and girls; however, substantial knowledge gaps persist concerning the accessibility, relevance, and availability of mental health interventions for this population. Narrative exposure therapy is an evidence-based group-based intervention to address trauma in refugee or community settings. Hence, this study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a six-session narrative exposure therapy group intervention in reducing posttrauma stress symptoms among internally displaced women with posttraumatic stress disorder in Ethiopia. A single-armed pre-post design was used with 12 women enrolled and nine completing the full intervention. Quantitative outcomes were assessed using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-5 posttraumatic stress disorder subscale, and qualitative data were collected via focus group and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed significant reduction in posttraumatic stress symptoms and related cognitive, emotional, physiological, behavioral, and relational challenges. The intervention also enhanced social support and coping. However, due to the uncontrolled design and small sample, findings should be interpreted cautiously. This feasibility study provides preliminary support for narrative exposure therapy as a promising intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among displaced women in Ethiopia. Further controlled trials are needed to evaluate efficacy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).