Table 2.
Perceived helpfulness of interventions for PTSD vignette ‘Miriam’ (n = 110)
| Treatments and activities | Helpful (%) | Harmful (%) | Neither (%) | Most helpfula (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment | ||||
| Psychotherapy focusing on changing thoughts and behaviors (cognitive behavior therapy) | 63.8 | 1.9 | 34.3 | 34.0 |
| Psychotherapy focusing on causes that stem from the past | 55.3 | 8.7 | 35.9 | 17.0 |
| Reading the Koran or Bible | 85.2 | 3.7 | 11.1 | 15.0 |
| Just talking about the problem (e.g. to a family member or close friend) | 62.0 | 9.3 | 28.7 | 8.0 |
| Getting out and about more/finding some new hobbies | 71.8 | 1.0 | 27.2 | 7.0 |
| Getting information about the problem and available services | 84.3 | 5.6 | 10.2 | 4.0 |
| Improving diet and/or getting more exercise | 54.2 | 2.8 | 43.0 | 3.0 |
| Trying to deal with the problem on her own | 31.1 | 32.1 | 36.8 | 3.0 |
| Admission to a psychiatric hospital | 26.0 | 24.0 | 50.0 | 3.0 |
| Relaxation (e.g. having a massage) | 72.6 | 1.9 | 25.5 | 2.0 |
| Psychotherapy focusing on relationships with others | 64.8 | 1.9 | 33.3 | 2.0 |
| Hypnosis | 26.7 | 8.9 | 64.4 | 2.0 |
| Have a prayer session or reading with a religious leader | 61.0 | 1.0 | 38.1 | 0.0 |
| Reading a self-help book | 54.7 | 1.9 | 43.4 | 0.0 |
| Traditional therapies (e.g. herbs, honey, black cumin seed, olive oil, dates, cupping—Hijama) | 15.7 | 4.6 | 79.6 | 0.0 |
| Drinking alcohol to relax | 2.8 | 77.4 | 19.8 | 0.0 |
| Medicine type | ||||
| Anti-depressant medication (e.g. prozac) | 56.4 | 10.9 | 32.7 | 53.1 |
| Medication to help you relax (e.g. xanax, valium) | 57.7 | 8.7 | 33.7 | 38.8 |
| Vitamins and minerals (e.g. vitamin C) | 51.5 | 3.0 | 45.5 | 8.2 |
| Person/service | ||||
| Psychologist | 83.0 | 0.0 | 17.0 | 29.9 |
| Psychiatrist | 75.5 | 2.9 | 21.6 | 29.9 |
| Family member | 80.8 | 1.9 | 17.3 | 16.5 |
| Close female friend | 63.1 | 1.0 | 35.9 | 7.2 |
| Religious person or priest | 67.3 | 2.0 | 30.6 | 5.2 |
| Community mental health worker/team (e.g. social worker, mental health nurse) | 66.0 | 3.9 | 30.1 | 4.1 |
| Homeland social group/club | 55.0 | 8.0 | 37.0 | 3.1 |
| Family or local doctor | 65.7 | 3.9 | 30.4 | 2.1 |
| Telephone counselling | 28.7 | 4.0 | 67.3 | 1.0 |
| Close male friend | 11.9 | 19.8 | 68.3 | 1.0 |
| Community religious organization | 36.0 | 5.0 | 59.0 | 0.0 |
aPercentage of sample rating the specific intervention item as ‘the most helpful’ for treating problem described in vignette (only one choice per category for each participant)