Effectiveness of an intensive treatment programme combining prolonged exposure and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Issue 1 (1st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Woudenberg, C.; Voorendonk, E. M.; Bongaerts, H.; Zoet, H. A.; Verhagen, M.; Lee, C. W.; V. Minnen, A.; De Jongh, A.
• Is Part Of: European journal of psychotraumatology. Volume 9:Issue 1(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-01-01
• Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder -- intensive trauma-focused treatment -- prolonged exposure -- EMDR therapy -- complex PTSD; Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático -- tratamiento intensivo centrado en el trauma -- Exposición Prolongada -- terapia EMDR -- TEPT complejo; 创伤后应激障碍 -- 强化创伤中心治疗 -- 延长暴露 -- EMDR疗法 -- 复杂PTSD; Two trauma-focused guideline treatment protocols for PTSD were combined. More than half of the patients lost their PTSD diagnosis following 8 days of treatment. A very low dropout rate.; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2018.1487225
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-8198

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: There is room for improvement regarding the treatment of severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Intensifying treatment to increase patient retention is a promising development.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an intensive trauma-focused treatment programme over 8 days for individuals suffering from severe PTSD.Method: Treatment was provided for 347 PTSD patients (70% women; mean age = 38.32 years, SD = 11.69) and consisted of daily sessions of prolonged exposure and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy (16 sessions in total), physical activity, and psycho-education. All participants had experienced multiple traumas, including sexual abuse (74.4%), and suffered from multiple comorbidities (e.g. 87.5% had a mood disorder). Suicidal ideation was frequent (73.9%). PTSD symptom severity was assessed by both clinician-rated [Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS)] and self-report [PTSD Symptom Scale Self Report (PSS-SR) and Impact of Event Scale (IES)] inventories. For a subsample ( n = 109), follow-up data at 6 months were available.Results: A significant decline in symptom severity was found (e.g. CAPS intention-to-treat sample Cohen's d = 1.64). At post-treatment, 82.9% showed a clinically meaningful response and 54.9% a loss of diagnosis. Dropout was very low (2.3%).Conclusions: Intensive trauma-focused treatment programmes including prolonged exposure, EMDR therapy, and physical activity can be effective for patients suffering from severe PTSD and are associated with low dropout rates.