Abstract

Background: Psychological trauma is a global health crisis, with particularly severe impacts in regions like Northern Nigeria, where conflicts and terrorism are widespread. Traditional trauma therapies, while effective, are often impractical in such settings due to their resource-intensive nature and the need for extensive sessions. There is a need for ultra-brief interventions that are both effective and feasible in resource-limited environments. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an Ultra-Brief Therapy for Psychotrauma (UBTP) through a controlled pre-test/post-test comparative design.

Method: The study was conducted at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Katsina, Nigeria, involving 30 participants. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a waitlist control group. The intervention group received the UBTP, a five-session intervention specifically designed for quick deployment in crisis-prone areas. The primary outcomes measured included trauma recovery, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, hope, and wisdom.

Results: The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements across all measured outcomes compared to the waitlist control group. These improvements were particularly notable in trauma recovery, PTSD symptom reduction, and increases in hope and wisdom, with results supported by strong statistical evidence.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that UBTP is an effective and practical intervention for addressing psychotrauma in resource-limited, crisis-prone settings. The study underscores the potential of UBTP to provide rapid psychological relief and contribute to trauma-informed care in challenging environments. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects and broader applicability of UBTP across diverse populations.

Key words: Ultra-Brief Therapy, Psychotrauma, PTSD, Crisis Intervention, Trauma Recovery