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PTSD symptoms reduced by early intervention
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A modified exposure therapy implemented soon after patients presented to the emergency department for trauma significantly reduced posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, Emory University researchers reported.
“PTSD is a major public health concern,” study researcher Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, PhD, said in a press release. “In so many people, what happens immediately after a traumatic event can make things worse or better. Right now, there are no accepted interventions delivered in the immediate aftermath of trauma.”
For the study, 137 patients aged 18 to 65 years who presented to the emergency department of a Georgia public hospital within 72 hours of experiencing a trauma, which included rape, car accident or physical assault, were randomly assigned to either modified prolonged exposure therapy or assessment only. The intervention consisted of three 1-hour sessions of prolonged exposure therapy for 3 weeks conducted by trained therapists who asked patients to describe the trauma. The reconstruction of the event was recorded, which patients listened to every day during the intervention. The therapists also instructed patients on breathing techniques and self-care.
Patients were assessed at 4 and 12 weeks post-intervention using a number of measures, including the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale and the PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview Version.
Patients in the intervention group reported significantly lower posttraumatic stress reactions vs. the control group at 4 (P<.01) and 12 (P<.05) weeks. Those in the intervention group also showed significantly lower depressive symptoms at 4 weeks compared with controls (P<.05). Further analysis revealed that the intervention was most effective at reducing PTSD in patients who were victims of rape at 4 (P=.004) and 12 (P=.05) weeks.
“More research is needed, but this prevention model could have significant public health implications,” Rothbaum said. “A long-standing hope of mental health research is to prevent development of psychopathology in those at risk instead of being limited to symptom treatment after disease onset.”
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.