Jiang 2014.
| Methods | Two‐group, parallel RCT | |
| Participants | Chinese adults meeting criteria for PTSD as assessed by the CAPS. Participants survived the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, which caused more than 69,000 deaths, including more than 5000 students in school at the time of the event | |
| Interventions | Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) + treatment as usual (TAU): 27 participants IPT addressed trauma‐related mental disorders. It was focused on 4 areas, depending on the cause of the patient's distress: interpersonal disputes, role transitions, grief/loss, and interpersonal sensitivity/deficit TAU: 22 participants TAU included continuation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), benzodiazepines, and crisis counselling services. Those receiving medications met weekly with psychiatrists for medication management and had access to mental health professionals for interim crisis care. After 12 weeks, those assigned to TAU were offered IPT treatment |
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| Outcomes | Primary outcomes: diagnosis of PTSD on CAPS and/or diagnosis of MDD on SCID Secondary outcomes: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II); Generalized Self Efficacy (GSE); State Trait Anger (STAXI); Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS); Social Adjustment Scale (SAS); Quality of Life Index (QLI) |
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| Notes | ||
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Quote: "Individuals were randomised" Probably done |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | No information provided |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | No information provided |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | High risk | Quote: "Unexpected personnel and budget constraints required that the unblinded study coordinator and unblinded assistant carry out these assessments" |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Dropouts were reported (IPT group 8/27; TAU group 3/22) |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | Primary and secondary outcomes listed in the "Methods" section were reported in the "Results" section |
| Therapist qualification | Low risk | Therapists were 5 psychologists, 4 psychiatrists, and 1 teacher experienced in processing emotional trauma secondary to earthquake |
| Treatment fidelity | Low risk | Quote: "Treatment adherence was assessed for each session by the therapist supervisor. Supervisors rated therapists' adherence to IPT protocol using a ten‐point scale assessing overall quality of the session (three items) and quality of key components of each of four phases (2‐5 items), and two reverse coded items for off‐protocol treatments, such as CBT" |
| Therapist/investigator allegiance | Unclear risk | No information provided |
| Other bias | Unclear risk | No information provided |