This study is investigating a new brief psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which, modifies an already proven psychotherapy for PTSD by adding two new components and modifying several others. The goal of the study is to determine whether this experimental treatment outperforms the well-established standard treatment.
This study is investigating a new brief psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which, modifies an already proven psychotherapy for PTSD by adding two new components and modifying several others. The goal of the study is to determine whether this experimental treatment outperforms the well-established standard treatment. Individuals between the ages of 18-65 with chronic PTSD are randomly assigned to one of three psychotherapy conditions: (a) brief enhanced exposure therapy; (b) standard prolonged exposure therapy; and (c) delayed standard exposure therapy. All study participants undergo a phone and face-to-face screening assessment to determine study eligibility and baseline (pretreatment-Week 0) symptom severity. Upon completing treatment, participants undergo three additional assessment visits (Week 6, Week 10, and Week 22). During each of these outcome assessment visits, participants complete a structured clinical interview and a battery of computer-administered questionnaires.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
27
Patient engages in repeated revisiting of their trauma memory under the guidance of the therapist for about 40 minutes. During each revisiting trial the patient closes their eyes and verbally describes the trauma and the feeling and thoughts experienced during the trauma.
The patient and therapist discuss the patient's experience during the trauma revisiting with the goal of helping the patient gain alternative perspectives of the trauma.
Through patient handouts and didactic instruction, the patient learns about the common reactions to trauma and the rationale for exposure therapy.
Laboratory for the Study of Anxiety Disorders, University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States
Change from baseline in PTSD symptom severity
PTSD Symptom Scale - Interview Version
Time frame: Weeks 6, 10, 22
Change from baseline in depression symptom severity
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self-Report
Time frame: Weeks 6, 10, 22.
Change from baseline in trauma-related cognitions
Post-Traumatic Cognitions Inventory - Self-Report
Time frame: Weeks 6, 10, 22.
Change from baseline in general physical and psychological health
Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36, Version 2 - Self-report
Time frame: Weeks 6, 10, 22
Change from baseline in work, social/leisure activities, and family/home life functioning
Sheehan Disability Scale - Self-report
Time frame: Weeks 6, 10, 22.
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Prior to the start of Imaginal Exposure, the patient is asked to recall a threatening element of their trauma memory for 1 minute. This is followed by a 30-minute rest-period prior to beginning imaginal exposure.
Patient is seated in front of a computer monitor and instructed to view a 30-min looped video clip that thematically resembles the patient's trauma.
Patient is seated comfortably in a chair and instructed to breathe slowly and deeply in a relaxed manner.
Therapist assists the patient in identifying trauma-related situations/activities that the patient is avoiding and encourages the patient to begin to confront these situations between sessions.
The patient repeatedly confronts the truama-related media clip while simultaneously listening to their own trauma script through headphones.