Narrative exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is a psychological intervention conditionally recommended for the prevention and intervention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous study reported that NET had medium effect on PTSD, but the evidence base of NET is still weak. In this article, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the efficacy of NET for PTSD symptom reduction and loss of diagnosis. METHOD Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of NET for PTSD. Effect sizes were calculated by Hedges' g and ratio of risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Study heterogeneity was assessed by Q, Tau2 and I2 and explored by subgroup analyses and metaregression analyses. RESULTS 18 studies which met full inclusion criteria were included. The finding showed that NET had moderate between-group effect size (g = -.57, 95% CI [-0.87, -0.28], p < .01) and large within-group effect size (g = -1.31, [-1.54, -1.09], p < .01) at first postintervention assessment. The mean RR of loss of diagnosis between NET and comparators was 2.20 ([1.23, 3.92], p < .01). However, there were no differences between groups in both symptom reduction and loss of diagnosis when accounting for publication bias. And the heterogeneity could not be explained sufficiently. CONCLUSION Although the article indicated the efficacy of NET for PTSD symptom reduction and the loss of diagnosis, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions considering the heterogeneity and publication bias in samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).