A randomized clinical trial to dismantle components of cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in female victims of interpersonal violence.

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to conduct a dismantling study of cognitive processing therapy in which the full protocol was compared with its constituent components--cognitive therapy only (CPT-C) and written accounts (WA)--for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid symptoms. The intent-to-treat (ITT) sample included 150 adult women with PTSD who were randomized into 1 of the 3 conditions. Each condition consisted of 2 hr of therapy per week for 6 weeks; blind assessments were conducted before treatment, 2 weeks following the last session, and 6 months following treatment. Measures of PTSD and depression were collected weekly to examine the course of recovery during treatment as well as before and after treatment. Secondary measures assessed anxiety, anger, shame, guilt, and dysfunctional cognitions. Independent ratings of adherence and competence were also conducted. Analyses with the ITT sample and with study completers indicate that patients in all 3 treatments improved substantially on PTSD and depression, the primary measures, and improved on other indices of adjustment. However, there were significant group differences in symptom reduction during the course of treatment whereby the CPT-C condition reported greater improvement in PTSD than the WA condition.

Dialectical behaviour therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder related to childhood sexual abuse: a pilot study in an outpatient treatment setting

“…The uncontrolled trial does not allow a determination of whether DBT-PTSD is superior to other, well-established treatments for PTSD in our sample. Currently, we are completing a large randomized controlled trial comparing outpatient DBT-PTSD to Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT; Müller-Engelmann, Dittmann, Weßlau, & Steil, 2016; Resick et al, 2008) in female patients meeting the same inclusion and exclusion criteria as in the present pilot trial.…”

Interdisciplinary Residential Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury: Effects on Symptom Severity and Occupational Performance and Satisfaction

“…During its history, the program has used both CPT and cognitive processing therapy-cognitive only (CPT-C), which is a version of the CPT protocol without the written trauma account (Resick et al, 2008), but in the current study, all veterans received CPT as the trauma-focused treatment approach. CPT was provided in the combined individual and group protocol; this format provides the opportunity to learn and practice skill development in a group setting while individual sessions focus on processing traumatic events.…”

Defining the index trauma in post-traumatic stress disorder patients with multiple trauma exposure: impact on severity scores and treatment effects of using worst single incident versus multiple traumatic events

“…Thirteen of the trials gave no definition of the index trauma. Of the four studies that did specify what definition they were using, all used a narrow definition, such as ‘worst event’ (Resick et al, 2008) or ‘a CSA [childhood sexual abuse] experience’ (McDonagh et al, 2005). Importantly, we did not find any study in which more than one definition of the index trauma was used to evaluate its treatment outcomes.…”