Changing Beliefs about Trauma: A Qualitative Study of Cognitive Processing Therapy. Issue 2 (16th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Price, Jennifer L.; MacDonald, Helen Z.; Adair, Kathryn C.; Koerner, Naomi; Monson, Candice M.
• Is Part Of: Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy. Volume 44:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 156
• Page End: 167
• Publication Date: 2014-12-16
• Subjects: Cognitive therapy, -- treatment outcome, -- qualitative methods, -- PTSD; Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S1352465814000526
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4658

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Controlled qualitative methods complement quantitative treatment outcome research and enable a more thorough understanding of the effects of therapy and the suspected mechanisms of action.Aims: Thematic analyses were used to examine outcomes of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a randomized controlled trial of individuals diagnosed with military-related PTSD ( n = 15).Method: After sessions 1 and 11, participants wrote "impact statements" describing their appraisals of their trauma and beliefs potentially impacted by traumatic events. Trained raters coded each of these statements using a thematic coding scheme.Results: An analysis of thematic coding revealed positive changes over the course of therapy in participants' perspective on their trauma and their future, supporting the purported mechanisms of CPT.Conclusion: Implications of this research for theory and clinical practice are discussed.