Comparative Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfulness Therapies in Reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Interpersonal Violence Survivors

Overview

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT), and psychoeducation in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adult survivors of interpersonal/domestic violence. Participants who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to receive CBT, MBT, or psychoeducation. PTSD symptoms and related psychological outcomes, including emotion regulation, mindfulness, and perceived stress, will be assessed before treatment, after treatment, and at follow-up. The study seeks to determine whether CBT or MBT provides greater improvements in PTSD symptoms compared with psychoeducation and to identify the relative effectiveness of these evidence-based psychological interventions for survivors of interpersonal violence.

Interpersonal/domestic violence is a major public health concern that is associated with a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other adverse mental health outcomes. Although Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT) have each demonstrated effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms, few randomized controlled trials have directly compared their relative efficacy among survivors of interpersonal violence, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. This study addresses this evidence gap by evaluating and comparing CBT and MBT using a randomized controlled trial design. This is a parallel-group randomized controlled trial with three study arms: (1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), (2) Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT), and (3) psychoeducation as an active control. Approximately 60 adult survivors of interpersonal/domestic violence who meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD following screening and diagnostic assessment will be randomly assigned in equal numbers to one of the three intervention groups. Participants will complete baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments. The primary objective is to compare the effectiveness of CBT, MBT, and psychoeducation in reducing PTSD symptom severity. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in emotion regulation, mindfulness, perceived stress, and other related psychological outcomes following the interventions. The study hypothesizes that both CBT and MBT will produce greater reductions in PTSD symptoms than psychoeducation, while also examining whether one active intervention demonstrates superior effectiveness for specific PTSD symptom domains and psychological outcomes. The findings will contribute to the evidence base for trauma-informed psychological interventions and may inform clinical practice by identifying effective, culturally relevant treatment approaches for survivors of interpersonal/domestic violence.