More than half of college students endorse experiencing at least one traumatic event. Consistent with other populations, the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for college students has been reported at around 12%. Despite this, empirically supported treatments for PTSD have not been widely disseminated in University Counselling Centers (UCCs). This study examines outcomes using cognitive processing therapy (CPT) with a sample of n = 26 college students in a UCC setting. This study also examines therapist experience, length of degree and symptom severity on outcome. After completing training, n = 8 therapists completed CPT consultation and certification. Students who participated in individual CPT during this process were administered the PCL-5 and PHQ-9 at weekly sessions. A retrospective chart review was completed. PCL-5 and PHQ-9 scores were separately examined as outcome variables using linear mixed models where session, therapist experience, length of therapist degree, and severity of symptoms were included as fixed effects, and subjects were assumed to have a random effect. Significant reductions in PCL-5 and PHQ-9 scores were observed across treatment. In this sample, 84.6% of students were treatment responders. Results were unchanged when adjusting for therapist level of experience or training. CPT shows strong potential for UCC settings. CPT can be successfully implemented with novice therapists.
College students experience a wide variety of traumatic events, including childhood or recent physical or sexual abuse or assault; veteran students may also be survivors of combat or military sexual assault, accidents, or natural disasters. Past findings have indicated the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in college students is around 12%. Despite this, evidence-based treatment for PTSD has not been widely disseminated in university counseling centers (UCCs). Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) has a strong body of evidence to support its use with a variety of trauma etiologies, is time-limited, and can be provided in individual or group modalities. Initial, outcome research for CPT in a UCC has indicated that it holds promise as a treatment in this setting. Additionally, the benefits of CPT have been demonstrated to lead to long-lasting improvement. This makes CPT a potential fit for UCCs that have limited resources in terms of staff, space, and time. This article is based on the experience of implementing CPT in a large UCC at a Big Ten school with a widely diverse student population. Some challenges in using CPT in a UCC setting are discussed. Common trauma etiologies for this population, and vignettes relevant to university counseling, are also provided. Public Significance StatementThis article provides an overview of implementing cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for college students who have posttraumatic stress disorder in a university counseling center setting. Considerations for providing CPT with students and therapy vignettes are included.
It is the responsibility of psychiatrists to enter the public discussion on how psychiatric disorders should be treated and to run public "awareness programmes".
Background: Negative life events can result in adjustment disorders. If there are feelings of having been treated unfair, been let down or been humiliated one type of reaction are prolonged states of embitterment, which has been described as Posttraumatic Embitterment Disorder, PTED. A new approach in the treatment of PTED is cognitive behavioral psychotherapy which uses special strategies based on wisdom psychology. Wisdom has been defined as the capacity to cope with unsolvable and serious problems and questions in life. Method: In a controlled clinical trial psychosomatic inpatients which suffered from PTED, were randomly assigned to "wisdom therapy" (N=28), which focusses on the reframing of the traumatic event and to "wisdom and headonia therapy " (N=29), which additionally encourages patients to focus on positive aspects in life. Another group of PTED patients (N=50) and patients with other mental disorders (N=50) received treatment as usual. Results: PTED patients who were treated with wisdom psychotherapy showed a reduction in the SCL-90-PST score of initially 55,7 and at the end of 40,1 and those treated with hedonia therapy of initially 58,7 and at the end of 41,3. Measures of therapist adherence showed that therapists in both groups used wisdom strategies. PTED controls started initially with a SCL-90-PST score of 52,2 and ended with 50,2. Other patients started treatment with 39,3 and finished with 25,9.
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