Uganda is a post conflict state, and -with prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 32% -the treatment of PTSD remains a priority.
In 2006 the Link hosted a clinical psychologist and psychiatric nurse at the Institute of Psychotrauma, ELFMHT, for 6 months to train them to found their own National Referral Centre for trauma survivors.
In 2007, the Link sent a UK trauma team to the Centre, and began local training for a wide range of professional groups including psychiatrists and nurses working in a recovering war zone in Gulu in North.
We have visited orphanages and refugee camps where we have learnt how to adjust our models and metaphors with local trainers to East African settings appropriate for their patient groups. We have evidence that our training has impact by evaluation and encouraged our Ugandan colleagues to publish with us*.
The welcome was overwhelming; take up was excellent; evaluation began from the start. We continued with exchange, teaching and supervision and by 2011, we had developed a culturally tailored trauma training for 58 psychiatric clinical officers.
'Western' therapies can have universal application if taught to clinicians who can culturally interpret , implement and sustain them. The Psychological Work Stream was established in 2014, and we currently focus on brief interventions with families of those suffering psychosis.
*d'Ardenne, Robjant, K, Kasuija R., Nsereko J., and Hunter, E., 2013, Culturally Tailored Training in Trauma Focussed CBT for Uganda. African Journal of Traumatic Stress Vol 3 No 1
*d'Ardenne, P., Dorner, H., Walugembe, J., Nakibuuka & Nsereko, J., 2009; Training Clinicians to recognise and refer PTSD patients in Uganda. International Psychiatry Vol 6 No 3.
*d'Ardenne, P., Robjant , K., Kasujja,R., Nsereko, J & Hunter E., 2012
*Ugandan PCOs & CBT Therapists Collaborate in Psychological Approaches to Trauma
*Uganda National Association of Psychiatric Clinical Officers.
Contact: brigid.maccarthy@gmail.com Psychological Therapies Work Stream, Butabika Link
