On the efficacy of Narrative Exposure Therapy : a reply to Mundt et al.

Abstract

In their review article, Mundt et al. (2014), ‘Evaluating interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder in low and middle income countries: Narrative Exposure Therapy’, (Intervention, this issue) evaluated Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) as an example of a short-term treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder that is applied in low and middle income, post conflict settings. They concluded that it is premature to recommend NET as a treatment approach. In this response, the clinicians and researchers who developed NET argue that the paper by Mundt et al. does not correctly represent the rationale of NET and that the methodological critique of the NET trials in the article is biased. Compared to other types of psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions in post conflict settings, the evidence base of NET is strong, and the application of NET within a sustainable mental healthcare system can be recommended.