Narrative exposure therapy for war-affected Middle Eastern refugees: a scoping review of outcomes, delivery contexts and implementation gaps.

BACKGROUND

Refugees from the Middle East are exposed to multiple war-related and displacement-related stressors. Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and its child-adapted version (KIDNET) have been applied in various settings, but evidence remains scattered.

OBJECTIVE

To map the available evidence on NET/KIDNET among war-affected Middle Eastern refugees, focusing on outcomes, delivery contexts, study designs, and implementation gaps.

METHODS

Peer-reviewed articles were systematically reviewed by screening three electronic databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus. Inclusion criteria included: studies published from 2015 to 2025, in English or French, involving Middle Eastern refugees or war-affected displaced populations, and reporting psychosocial outcomes after NET/KIDNET intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria: 7 primary studies and 17 secondary studies. Most of the included studies highlighted the potential benefits of NET and its applicability among child and adult refugees. Findings showed significant reduction of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with limited evidence regarding NET's impact on depression and anxiety. The review identified limitations in follow-up processes to assess sustainability of results as well as cultural adaptability of NET.

CONCLUSION

NET may be beneficial, but evidence is heterogeneous and limited by study design, follow-up duration and contextual adaptation.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.