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KMID : 1118520200170070681
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Psychiatry Investigation
2020 Volume.17 No. 7 p.681 ~ p.687
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The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Depressive Symptoms in North Korean Refugees
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Jeon Se-Hyun
Lee Ji-Youn
Jun Jin-Yong
Park Young-Su
Cho Jae-Hee
Choi Jae-Ryung
Jeon Youn-Suk
Kim Seog-Ju
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Abstract
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Objective: Despite the growing need for psychological programs for North Korean refugees, most psychological interventions for these people lack a verification study that tests their effectiveness. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in North Korean refugees.
Methods: Participants included 38 North Korean refugees, of whom 23 participated in simple relaxation and 15 participated in CBT. The Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised were used to evaluate symptoms pre- and post-intervention.
Results: Participants had a significant decrease in CES-D scores after treatment (p=0.037). The decrease in CES-D was larger in those who participated in the CBT compared to those in simple relaxation (p=0.023). The superior effects that CBT had on depressive symptoms over simple relaxation were particularly more prominent in those with severe depression (p=0.035). Participants with high levels of anxiety also showed significant decreases in STAI-S scores after treatment, regardless of which type of program they participated in (p=0.023).
Conclusion: This preliminary findings suggests that CBT is an effective psychiatric approach in treating depressive symptoms in North Korean refugees, especially for those with a higher degree of depressive symptom.
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KEYWORD
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Refugee, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Simple relaxation
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