Lab
Research on NET in The Netherlands
About the lab
Research on Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) in The Netherlands
Featured research (22)
https://research-portal.uu.nl/en/publications/the-multiple-and-changing-faces-of-psychotrauma-and-its-psycholog
The concepts of psychotrauma and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD have become increasingly popular in recent decades, not only in scientific literature and in therapy rooms, but also in the media and in everyday language. Yet the concept of PTSD only exists since 1980. This dissertation contributes to the knowledge about the manifestations of psychotraumatic events and their psychological consequences by investigating how PTSD emerged and whether the symptoms described in the PTSD concept correspond to those of traumatized patients. From a historical perspective, a literature review examined how posttraumatic disorders developed and under what circumstances and influences this took place. A great diversity of described symptoms and syndromes was found over the past century and a half. It turned out that these often arose under time-bound social, political, legal and scientific circumstances and were accompanied by intense debates about their right to exist. Research was then conducted using various statistical methodologies. In a study on the traumatic stressor criterion it was shown that, among other things, traumatic events, but also re-experiencing symptoms, did not occur specifically in PTSD alone, but also in various other mental disorders like unipolar mood disorders. Subsequently, Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used in two studies within two large samples of traumatized patients with a veteran and refugee background, respectively. Three subgroups of patients were identified which were characterized by symptom severity. The subgroups showed a wide range of PTSD, depression, anxiety and somatization symptoms, which were closely interrelated. Specific trauma types, coping styles, personality traits, and gender were associated with certain symptom severity subgroups. Finally, a study was conducted among a sample of both traumatized police officers and veterans to examine the associations between PTSD criteria and treatment outcome with Linear Mixed Model analyses (LMM). 51% Of participants reported clinically significant improvement for PTSD symptoms and 45% for symptoms of general psychopathology. Trauma characteristics and the severity of the four PTSD symptom clusters pre-treatment were not associated with changes in total PTSD scores from pre- to post-treatment. However, some trends were found like e.g., that higher severity of cluster C symptoms before treatment tended to be associated with smaller improvement in cluster E, and higher severity on cluster D with greater improvement of the same cluster D. The dissertation ends with a proposal for a hybrid diagnostic model for patients with post-traumatic complaints with both categorical and dimensional diagnostic elements. This model consists of both subtypes that can be defined in addition to PTSD and the concept of staging. In this way, the heterogeneity of post-traumatic symptomatology can be described in a more personalized way and treatment can be applied in a more tailor-made manner.
Citation: Jongedijk, R. A. (2025). The Multiple and Changing Faces of Psychotrauma and its Psychological Consequences. [Doctoral thesis, Universiteit Utrecht. https://doi.org/10.33540/2537
Narratieve Exposure Therapie (NET) is gericht op meervoudig getraumatiseerde patiënten met een posttraumatische stress stoornis (PTSS). Door het levensloopperspectief, waarin niet alleen de nare maar ook de positieve gebeurtenissen een plaats krijgen, is NET een waardevolle en aanspreekbare traumatherapie.
https://www.gzpsychologie.nl/
(Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is aimed at multiple traumatized patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Due to the life course perspective, in which not only the bad but also the positive events are given a place, NET is a valuable and approachable trauma therapy.)
Background
Patients with severe mental illness with repeated interpersonal trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have a negative illness progression. Traumas are often not treated because of their vulnerability. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is an effective trauma therapy. It is unknown whether NET is effective and tolerable in these patients receiving community mental healthcare.
Objectives
The objectives of this study are (1) to gain insights into patients’ experiences before, during, and after NET concerning changes in PTSD, dissociative and severe mental ill symptoms, care needs (CAN), quality of life, and global functioning; (2) to identify factors that influence diagnostic changes after NET as compared to patients’ experiences. These insights will help to decide whether NET should be incorporated in usual care for these patients.
Design
A mixed methods convergent design consists of a grounded theory approach with thematic analysis followed by a merged analysis, comparing quantitative, and qualitative data for each participant and by means of a joint matrix.
Participants
Adult psychiatric outpatients (age, 21–65) with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to repeated interpersonal trauma were indicted for the study.
Methods
Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were assessed. Qualitative data were collected 3 months after NET using individual semi-structured in-depth interviews. The merged analysis compared quantitative and qualitative results for each participant.
Results
Twenty-three outpatients (female, 82%) with a mean age of 49.9 years (SD 9.8) participated in the study. Participants experienced NET as intensive, and most of them tolerated it well. Afterward, eighteen participants perceived less symptoms. Mixed analysis showed substantial congruency between quantitative scores and participants’ perceptions of PTSD, dissociative symptoms, and CAN (Cohen’s kappa > 0.4). Remission of PTSD was associated with sufficient experienced support.
Conclusion
Outpatients with severe mental illness underwent intensive NET, and most of them tolerate it well. This therapy is clearly efficacious in this group.
Clinical Trial Registration
[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NL5608 (NTR5714)].
Background
Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in refugees is reportedly higher in comparison to the general population. Refugee children specifically are often coping with trauma and loss and are at risk for mental health difficulties. With staggering numbers of people seeking refuge around the world and 50% being 18 years or younger, research examining the effects of trauma-focused therapies for refugee children with PTSD is highly needed. Both Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and the child version of Narrative Exposure Therapy (KIDNET) have been used for refugees, although these treatment methods have not been systematically compared. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of EMDR and KIDNET, compared to a waitlist control group and with each other, offered to refugee children.
Methods
A randomized controlled three-arm trial has been designed. The primary outcome is PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children DSM5 (CAPS-CA-5) at baseline (T1), 1 month post-treatment, or after 8 weeks of waiting (T2) and 3 months follow-up (T3). Additionally, instruments to assess posttraumatic stress symptoms, behavioral and emotional problems, and quality of life perception in children aged 8–18 are conducted at T1, T2, and T3.
Discussion
This is the first RCT that examines the effectiveness of EMDR and KIDNET in refugee children aged 8–18 years specifically, compared to a waitlist control group intended to reduce PTSD diagnosis and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms and comorbid complaints in a growing and challenging population.
Trial registration
Dutch Trial Register NL40769. Retrospectively registered on June 16, 2021.
Dutch handbook on Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
Lab head

About Ruud Jongedijk
- Psychiatrist / Psychotherapist at ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre. Former Clinical and Medical Director of ARQ Centrum'45, the Netherlands. Writing, lecturing, training and supervision on Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). Research on psychotrauma diagnostics; especially about conceptualization of posttraumatic stress syndromes. History of psychotrauma. See also: https://scholar.google.nl/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=nl&hl=nl&user=w_uDzdAAAAAJ&pagesize=80
Members (6)
Ellen Klaassens
Jeannette C. G. Lely
Gerdie Eiting