Below is the citation and summary points of a new paper in the open access journal PLoS Medicine, looking at the challenges of implementing WHO guidelines for management of acute stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and bereavement in low- and middle-income countries. The paper also includes a summary table of guidelines but unfortunately the format does not allow me to copy and paste the text here.

The full text of the article is freely available here:

http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001769#pmed-1001769-t001

CITATION: Tol WA, Barbui C, Bisson J, Cohen J, Hijazi Z, et al. (2014) World Health Organization Guidelines for Management of Acute Stress, PTSD, and Bereavement: Key Challenges on the Road Ahead. PLoS Med 11(12): e1001769. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001769

SUMMARY POINTS

The implementation of new WHO mental health guidelines for conditions and disorders specifically related to stress is likely to face obstacles, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Formulation of evidence-based guidelines is complicated by limited knowledge regarding (a) the effectiveness of commonly implemented interventions, (b) the effectiveness of established evidence-based interventions when used in situations of ongoing adversity, and (c) the effectiveness of widely used cultural practices in LMICs. The application of the guidelines requires improved knowledge on how to reduce potentially harmful practices that are widely applied.

The implementation of recommendations regarding psychotherapeutic interventions will require an approach that balances (a) strengthening the availability and capacity of specialists to train and supervise and (b) shifting to the delivery of psychotherapy by non-specialists.

The strengthening of evidence for managing these conditions will require collaborative efforts by researchers and practitioners in a manner that is mindful of local sociocultural and health system realities.

—

Let’s build a future where people are no longer dying for lack of healthcare knowledge – Join HIFA: www.hifa2015.org