'It will get even better': preliminary findings from a trauma-focused psychotherapy effectiveness study reveal false positive patients' long-term outcome expectations after the treatment. (19th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kazlauskas, Evaldas; Jovarauskaite, Lina; Mazulyte, Egle; Skruibis, Paulius; Dovydaitiene, Migle; Eimontas, Jonas; Zelviene, Paulina
• Is Part Of: Nordic journal of psychiatry. Volume 71:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 277
• Page End: 281
• Publication Date: 2017-05-19
• Subjects: Post-traumatic stress -- PTSD -- psychotherapy -- expectations -- trauma; Psychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Scandinavia -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2016.1276623
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-9488

Abstract

Abstract: Background: There is considerable evidence that outcome expectations may predict psychotherapy outcomes. However, little is known about the long-term outcome expectations following the end of the treatment. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients' long-term outcome expectations after trauma-focused post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) psychotherapy in a single group effectiveness study. Methods: Twenty participants with various traumatic experiences who completed the Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (BEPP) and all the assessments were included into the study. Self-report measures were used to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes: Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R), Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation–Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up. Subjective Units of Distress Scale was used to measure long-term outcome expectations at post-treatment, asking participants to measure the expected distress in 6 months following the treatment. Assessments at 6-month follow-up were used to estimate the accuracy of patients' expectations of their distress at previous post-treatment assessment. Results: Significant decline of PTSD symptoms at post-treatment with large effect sizes was observed. At post-treatment assessment participants expected significant improvement of their condition in 6 months after the treatment. However, therapeutic effects remained stable at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: It is concluded that the PTSD patients, even after successful trauma-focused treatment, tend to expect further significant positive changes. However, therapeutic effects were stable half a year after the psychotherapy, and patients tend to have false expectations about further improvement of their condition.