Trauma/Grief-Focused Group Psychotherapy: School-Based Postwar Intervention With Traumatized Bosnian Adolescents

Results of a preliminary effectiveness evaluation of a school-based postwar program for war-exposed Bosnian adolescents are described. The evaluation centered on a manualized trauma/grief-focused group psychotherapy protocol for war-traumatized adolescents based on 5 therapeutic foci: traumatic experiences, trauma and loss reminders, postwar adversities, bereavement and the interplay of trauma and grief, and developmental impact. Fifty-five secondary school students (81% girls; age range = 15-19 years, M = 16.81) from 10 Bosnian schools participated in the evaluation. Students completed pregroup and postgroup self-report measures of posttraumatic stress, depression, and grief symptoms and postgroup measures of psychosocial adaptation and group satisfaction. The evaluation yielded preliminary but promising results, including reduced psychological distress and positive associations between distress reduction and psychosocial adaptation.