Memory-focused therapy: an integrated intervention to reduce trauma symptoms, maladaptive cognitive processes, and emotional distress in Afghan youth
By
Sayed Jafar Ahmadi
Zeinab Musavi
Sayed Abbas Sarwary
Delawar Khan Ebrahimi
Adam D. Brown
Justin Dainer-Best
Laura Jobson
July 8, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Trauma: A Comprehensive Approach to Alleviate Symptoms and Emotional Distress in Afghan Adolescents
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression Key Mechanisms Memory processing, emotional regulation, future self-construction Target Population Afghan youth affected by war-related trauma Care Setting Low-resource and unstable settings
Key Highlights
Significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress post-intervention Improvements in cognitive and emotional processing observed MFT is culturally responsive and feasible for implementation in Afghanistan Increased posttraumatic growth maintained at follow-up Severe shortage of mental health professionals in Afghanistan Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Use standardized measures for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress assessment Management
Implement Memory-Focused Therapy (MFT) in structured group sessions Monitoring & Follow-up
Conduct follow-up assessments to evaluate sustained improvements Risks
Consider the impact of ongoing conflict and instability on mental health access Patient & Prescribing Data
Youth affected by chronic war-related trauma in Afghanistan
MFT targets cognitive disruptions and promotes resilience and self-continuity
Clinical Best Practices
Integrate trauma memory processing with emotional regulation strategies Focus on culturally responsive interventions tailored to local contexts Utilize qualitative feedback from participants to enhance therapy delivery Related Resources & Content
