Journal article
Effectiveness of an intensive treatment programme combining prolonged exposure and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for severe post-traumatic stress disorder
European Journal of Psychotraumatology, Vol.9(1)
2018
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.
Details
- Title
- Effectiveness of an intensive treatment programme combining prolonged exposure and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for severe post-traumatic stress disorder
- Authors/Creators
- C. Van Woudenberg (Author/Creator) - Research Department, PSYTREC, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.E.M. Voorendonk (Author/Creator) - Research Department, PSYTREC, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.H. Bongaerts (Author/Creator) - Research Department, PSYTREC, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.H.A. Zoet (Author/Creator) - Research Department, PSYTREC, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.M. Verhagen (Author/Creator) - Research Department, PSYTREC, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.C.W. Lee (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityA. van Minnen (Author/Creator) - Radboud University NijmegenA. De Jongh (Author/Creator) - Research Department, PSYTREC, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
- Publication Details
- European Journal of Psychotraumatology, Vol.9(1)
- Publisher
- Taylor and Francis
- Identifiers
- 991005543989507891
- Copyright
- © 2018 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Source: InCites
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 6 Social Sciences
- 6.24 Psychiatry & Psychology
- 6.24.93 Trauma and PTSD
- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychiatry
- Psychology, Clinical
- ESI research areas
- Psychiatry/Psychology