Do early interventions prevent PTSD? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the safety and efficacy of early interventions after sexual assault

Abstract

Objective: To review the safety and efficacy of early interventions after sexual assault in reducing or preventing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Method: Systematic searches were performed on studies (1980–2018) that examined the efficacy of interventions for PTSD within 3 months after sexual assault.Results: The review identified 7 studies (n = 350) with high risk of bias that investigated 5 interventions. Only two studies reported on safety. Contact with the authors of six studies provided no indications for the occurrence of adverse events. Two studies reported the efficacy using PTSD diagnosis as dependent variable but found no difference between groups. All studies reported on efficacy using PTSD severity as dependent variable. For the meta-analysis, 4 studies (n = 293) were included yielding significantly greater reductions of PTSD severity than standard care at 2 to 12 months follow-up (g = −0.23, 95% CI [−0.46, 0.00]), but not at 1 to 6 weeks post-intervention (g = −0.28, 95% CI [−0.57, 0.02]). The heterogeneity of the interventions precluded further analyses.Discussion: Findings suggest that early interventions can lead to durable effects on PTSD severity after sexual assault. However, due to limited availability of data, it is impossible to draw definite conclusions about safety and efficacy of early interventions, and their potential to prevent PTSD.

Post-infection depressive, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms: A prospective cohort study in patients with mild COVID-19

“…Following the PTSD model, these individuals should be referred to early interventions. Brief interventions of psychoeducation on coping strategies have been effective in promoting mental health among individuals who experienced traumatic life events ( Oosterbaan et al, 2019 ). Internet-based psychological intervention for acute COVID-19 patients has also been described, and could be an interesting early-intervention tool for those who experience psychological distress during this phase ( Wei et al, 2020 ).…”

Mobile Insight in Risk, Resilience, and Online Referral (MIRROR): Psychometric Evaluation of an Online Self-Help Test

“…These were based on the assumption that complaints after PTEs may occur but will generally diminish over time, as most people recover on their own [ 6 ]. Therefore, the occurrence of PTSD core complaints with moderate to low functioning shortly after an adverse event can be seen as normal [ 11 - 13 ], but if complaints and moderate to low functioning are present after 1 month, guidance to care is needed [ 14 - 18 ].…”

“…The European Network for Traumatic Stress (TENTS) guideline for post-disaster psychosocial care advises against formal screening of everyone affected by a PTE but stresses the importance of identifying individuals in need of support. Once PTSD has been diagnosed, early treatment is advised [ 14 - 18 ]. It could be concluded, then, that support for people who have experienced a PTE is necessary, preferably early, and easily accessible.…”

Sexual function and pelvic floor activity in women: the role of traumatic events and PTSD symptoms

“…These findings suggest that the development of PTSD after interpersonal trauma is pivotal in this association between trauma and pelvic floor function. This thus also offers potential for prevention of pelvic floor overactivity, by monitoring and early interventions in case PTSD symptoms develop (Covers et al, 2019 ; Oosterbaan, Covers, Bicanic, Huntjens, & de Jongh, 2019 ; Roberts, Kitchiner, Kenardy, Lewis, & Bisson, 2019 ). Future prospective studies in larger groups of women (with and without obesity and infertility) are needed to address causality.…”