Interventions Used in the Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.89.10924Keywords:
Interventions, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Psychotherapeutic Treatment, Cognitive-Behavioural Model of Learning, Clinical ReportsAbstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a highly prevalent psychopathological condition, results from exposure to a traumatic event that evokes fear, helplessness and horror. However, effective psychotherapeutic interventions have been developed that allow for the relief of symptoms and improvements associated with the functioning of patients diagnosed with this condition. The purpose of this review of clinical reports, published between 2014 and 2019 in journals indexed in the Online Library of Knowledge (B-on), was to provide an overview of the interventions that were used, by psychologists or other health professionals, in the psychotherapeutic treatment of the aforementioned disorder. Fifty one publications that met the inclusion criteria were identified and there was a predominance of the cognitive-behavioural approach, with strategies and procedures derived from the Cognitive-Behavioural Model of Learning. The results were later discussed.
References
World Health Organization. (2018). International Classification of Diseases - ICD-11. Geneva: World Health Organization.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Haviland, M. G., Banta, J. E., Sonne, J. L., & Przekop, P. (2016). Posttraumatic stress disorder-related hospitalizations in the United States (2002-2011): Rates, co-occurring illnesses, suicidal ideation/self-harm, and hospital charges. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 204(2), 78-86. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000432
Feduccia, A. A., Jerome, L., Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Mithoefer, M. C., & Doblin, R. (2019). Breakthrough for trauma treatment: Safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy compared to Paroxetine and Sertraline. Frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 650. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00650
Pietrzak, R. H., Goldstein, R. B., Southwick, S. M., & Grant, B. F. (2012). Physical health conditions associated with posttraumatic stress disorder in U.S. older adults: Results from wave 2 of the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 60(2), 296-303. doi: 10.1111/j.1532- 5415.2011.03788.x
Blanchard, E. B., Hickling, E. J., Freidenberg, B. M., Malta, L. S., Kuhn, E., & Sykes, M. A. (2004). Two studies of psychiatric morbidity among motor vehicle accident survivors 1 year after the crash. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42(5), 569-583. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(03)00162-1
Schnyder, U., Ehlers, A., Elbert, T., Foa, E. B., Gersons, B. P., Resick, P. A., ... Cloitre, M. (2015). Psychotherapies for ptsd: What do they have in common? European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 6(1), 1-10. doi: 10.3402/ejpt.v6.28186
Tortella-Feliu, M., Vázquez, C., Valiente, C., Quero, S., Soler, J., Montorio, I., … Baños, R. M. (2016). Retos en el desarrollo de intervenciones psicológicas y la práctica asistencial en salud mental. Clínica y Salud, 27(2), 65-71. doi: 10.1016/j.clysa.2016.03.002
Pukay-Martin, N. D., Torbit, L., Landy, M. S. H., Wanklyn, S. G., Shnaider, P., Lane, J. E. M., & Monson, C. M. (2015). An uncontrolled trial of a present-focused cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 71(4), 302-312. doi: 10.1002/jclp.22166
Jerome, H., Smith, K. V., Shaw, E. J., Ssydlowski, S., Barker, C., Pistrang, N., & Thompson, E. H. (2018). Effectiveness of a cancer bereavement therapeutic group. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 23(7), 574-584. doi: 10.1080/15325024.2018.1518772
Pfeiffer, E., & Goldbeck, L. (2017). Evaluation of a trauma-focused group intervention for unaccompanied young refugees: A pilot study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(5), 531-536. doi: 10.1002/jts.22218
Haynes, P. L., Kelly, M., Warner, L., Quan, S. F., Krakow, B., & Bootzin, R. R. (2016). Cognitive behavioural social rhythm group therapy for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and sleep disturbance: Results from an open trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 192, 234-243. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.12.012
Levi, O., Shoval-Zuckerman, Y., Fruchter, E., Bibi, A., Bar-Haim, Y., & Wald, I. (2017). Benefits of a psychodynamic grouptherapy (PGT) model for treating veterans with PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73(10), 1247-1258. doi: 10.1002/jclp.22443
Woidneck, M. R., Morrison, K. L., & Twohig, M. P. (2014). Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress among adolescents. Behaviour Modification, 38(4), 451-476. doi: 10.1177/0145445513510527
Sarkadi, A., Ådahl, K., Stenvall, E., Ssegonja, R., Batti, H., Gavra, P., Fängström, K., & Salari, R. (2018). Teaching recovery techniques: Evaluation of a group intervention for unaccompanied refugee minors with symptoms of PTSD in Sweden. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 27(4), 467-479. doi: 10.1007/s00787-017-1093-9
Burton, L. E., Qeadan, F., & Burge, M. R. (2019). Efficacy of equine-assisted psychotherapy in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 17(1), 14-19. doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2018.11.001
Zehetmair, C., Kaufmann, C., Tegeler, I., Kidermann, D., Junne, F., Zipfel, S., Herpertz, S. C., Herzog, W., & Nikendei, C. (2018). Psychotherapeutic group intervention for traumatized male refugees using imaginative stabilization techniques - A pilot study in a German reception center. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00533
Raboni, M. R., Alonso, F. F. D., Tufik, S., & Suchecki, D. (2014). Improvement of mood and sleep alterations in posttraumatic stress disorder patients by eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, 8, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00209
Krupnick, J. L., Melnikoff, E., & Reinhard, M. (2016). A pilot study of interpersonal psychotherapy for PTSD in women veterans. Psychiatry, 79(1), 56-69. doi: 10.1080/00332747.2015.1129873
Unterhitzenberger, J., Wintersohl, S., Lang, M., König, J., & Rosner, R. (2019). Providing manualized individual trauma-focused CBT to unaccompanied refugee minors with uncertain residence status: A pilot study. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 13(1), 1-10. doi: 10.1186/s13034-019-0282-3
Smith, E. R., Porter, K. E., Messina, M. G., Beyer, J. A., Defever, M. E., Foa, E. B., & Rauch, S. A. M. (2015). Prolonged exposure for PTSD in a veteran group: A pilot effectiveness study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 30, 23-27. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.12.008
Kubitary, A., & Alsaleh, M. A. (2018). War experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders: Clinical effectiveness of treatment by repeating phrases of positive thoughts (TRPPT) of mental-war disorders in Syrian refugees children and adolescents war victims - a new therapeutic trial. Sleep and Hypnosis: A Journal of Clinical Neuroscience and Psychopathology, 20(3), 210-226. doi: 10.5350/Sleep.Hypn.2017.19.0153
Akbarian, F., Bajoghli, H., Haghighi, M., Kalak, N., Holsboer-Trachsler, E., & Brand, S. (2015). The effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy with respect to psychological symptoms and recovering autobiographical memory in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 11, 395-404. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S79581
Moreno, N., Sanz, J., García-Vera, M., Gesteira, C., Gutiérrez, S., Zapardiel, A., Cobos, B., & Marotta-Walters, S. (2019). Effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for terrorism victims with very long-term emotional disorders. Psicothema, 31(4), 400-406. doi: 10.7334/psicothema2018.165
Pence, P. G., Katz, L. S., Huffman, C., & Cojucar, G. (2014). Delivering integrative restoration-yoga Nidra meditation (irest) to women with sexual trauma at a veteran’s medical center: A pilot study. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 24(1), 53-62.
Goldstein, L. A., Mehling, W. E., Metzler, T. J., Cohen, B. E., Barnes, D. E., Choucroun, G. J., Silver, A., Talbot, L. S., Maguen, S., Hlavin, J. A., Chesney, M. A., & Neylan, T. C. (2018). Veterans group exercise: A randomized pilot trial of an integrative exercise program for veterans with posttraumatic stress. Journal of Affective Disorders, 227, 345-352. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.002
Van Westrhenen, N., Fritz, E., Vermeer, A., Boelen, P., & Kleber, R. (2019). Creative arts in psychotherapy for traumatized children in south africa: An evaluation study. PloS ONE, 14(2), 1-15. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.0210857
Blaauwendraat, C., Berg, A. L., & Gyllensten, A. L. (2017). One-year follow-up of basic body awareness therapy in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. A small intervention study of effects on movement quality, PTSD symptoms, and movement experiences. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 33(7), 515-526. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2017.1325957
Gros, D. F. (2014). Development and initial evaluation of transdiagnostic behaviour therapy (TBT) for veterans with affective disorders. Psychiatry Research, 220, 275-282. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.08.018
Cox, K. S., Mouilso, E. R., Venners, M. R., Defever, M. E., Duvivier, L., Rauch, S. A. M., Strom, T. Q., Joiner, T. E., & Tuerk, P. W. (2016). Reducing suicidal ideation through evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 80, 59-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.05.011
Lacasa, F., Álvarez, M., Navarro, M. Á., Richart, M. R., San, L., & Ortiz, E. M. (2018). Emotion regulation and interpersonal group therapy for children and adolescents witnessing domestic violence: A preliminary uncontrolled trial. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 11(3), 269-275. doi: 10.1007/s40653-016-0126-8
Simons, M., & Kursawe, A. L. (2019). Metacognitive therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in youth: A feasibility study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-7. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00264
Müller-Engelmann, M., & Steil, R. (2017). Cognitive restructuring and imagery modification for posttraumatic stress disorder (CRIM-PTSD): A pilot study. Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 54, 44-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2016.06.004
Gudiño, O. G., Weis, J. R., Havens, J. F., Biggs, E. A., Diamond, U. N., Marr, M., Jackson, C., & Cloitre, M. (2014). Group trauma-informed treatment for adolescent psychiatric inpatients: A preliminary uncontrolled trial. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 27(4), 496- 500. doi: 10.1002/jts.21928
Hylton, E., Malley, A., & Ironson, G. (2019). Improvements in adolescent mental health and positive affect using creative arts therapy after a school shooting: A pilot study. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 65, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.aip.2019.101586
Meiser-Stedman, R., Smith, P., McKinnon, A., Dixon, C., Trickey, D., Ehlers, A., Clark, D. M., Boyle, A., Watson, P., Goodyer, I., & Dalgleish, T. (2017). Cognitive therapy as an early treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents: A randomized controlled trial addressing preliminary efficacy and mechanisms of action. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58(5), 623-633. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12673
Price, M., Spinazzola, J., Musicaro, R., Turner, J., Suvak, M., Emerson, D., & van der Kolk, B. (2017). Effectiveness of an extended yoga treatment for women with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(4), 300-309. doi: 10.1089/acm.2015.0266
Hemma, G., McNab, A., & Katz, L. S. (2018). Efficacy of treating sexual trauma in a substance abuse residential program for women. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 48(1), 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s10879-017-9365-8
Signal, T., Taylor, N., Prentice, K., McDade, M., & Burke, K. J. (2017). Going to the dogs: A quasi experimental assessment of animal assisted therapy for children who have experienced abuse. Applied Developmental Science, 21(2), 81-93. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2016.1165098
Görg, N., Böhnke, J. R., Priebe, K., Rausch, S., Wekenmann, S., Ludäscher, P., Bohus, M., & Kleindienst, N. (2019). Changes in trauma-related emotions following treatment with dialectical behaviour therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder after childhood abuse. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 32(5), 764-773. doi: 10.1002/jts.22440
Kameoka, S., Yagi, J., Arai, Y., Nosaka, S., Saito, A., Miyake, W., Takada, S., Yamamoto, S., Asano, Y., Tanaka, E., & Asukai, N. (2015). Feasibility of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for traumatized children in Japan: A pilot study. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 9(1), 1-5. doi: 10.1186/s13033-015- 0021-y
Drožđek, B., Kamperman, A. M., Tol, W. A., Knipscheer, J. W., & Kleber, R. J. (2014). Seven-year follow-up study of symptoms in asylum seekers and refugees with PTSD treated with trauma-focused groups. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(4), 376-387. doi: 10.1002/jclp.22035
Ye, Z., Yu, N. X., Zhu, W., Chen, L., & Lin, D. (2018). A randomized controlled trial to enhance coping and posttraumatic growth and decrease posttraumatic stress disorder in hiv-infected men who have sex with men in Beijing, China. Aids Care, 30(6), 793- 801. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1417534
Cole, M. A., Muir, J. J., Gans, J. J., Shin, L. M., D’Esposito, M., Harel, B. T., & Schembri, A. (2015). Simultaneous treatment of neurocognitive and psychiatric symptoms in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and history of mild traumatic brain injury: A pilot study of mindfulness-based stress reduction. Military Medicine, 180(9), 956- 963. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00581
Barron, I., & Abdallah, G. (2017). Field trial of a complicated grief psychosocial program for adolescents in occupied Palestine. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 26(4), 372-390. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2017.1290000
Müller-Engelmann, M., Wünsch, S., Volk, M., & Steil, R. (2017). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBS) as a standalone intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder after mixed traumatic events: A mixed-methods feasibility study. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01407
Hill, R. M., Oosterhoff, B., Layne, C. M., Rooney, E., Yudovich, S., Pynoos, R. S., & Kaplow, J. B. (2019). Multidimensional grief therapy: Pilot open trial of a novel intervention for bereaved children and adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28(11), 3062-3074. doi: 10.1007/s10826-019-01481-x
Criswell, S. R., Sherman, R., & Krippner, S. (2018). Cognitive behavioural therapy with heart rate variability biofeedback for adults with persistent noncombat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. The Permanente Journal, 22. doi: 10.7812/TPP/17-207
Fortuna, L. R., Porche, M. V., & Padilla, A. (2017). A treatment development study of a cognitive and mindfulness-based therapy for adolescents with co-occurring posttraumatic stress and substance use disorder. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 91(1), 1-21. doi: 10.1111/papt.12143
Habigzang, L. F., Schneider, J. A., Frizzo, R. P., & Freitas, C. P. P. (2018). Evaluation of the impact of a cognitive-behavioural intervention for women in domestic violence situations in Brazil. Universitas Psychologica, 17(3), 1-11. doi: 10.11144/Javeriana.upsy17-3.eicb
Au, T. M., Sauer- Zavala, S., King, M. W., Petrocchi, N., Barlow, D. H., Litz, B. T. (2016). Compassion-based therapy for trauma-related shame and posttraumatic stress: Initial evaluation using a multiple baseline design. Behaviour Therapy, 48(2), 1-39. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2016.11.01
Brom, D., Stokar, Y., Lawi, C., Nuriel-Porat, V., Ziv, Y., Lerner, K., & Ross, G. (2017). Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled outcome study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(3), 304-312. doi: 10.1002/jts.22189
Cox, D. W., Westwood, M. J., Hoover, S. M., Chan, E. K. H., Kivari, C. A., Dadson, M. R., & Zumbo, B. D. (2015). Evaluation of a group intervention for veterans who experienced military-related trauma. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 64(3), 367-380. doi:10.1521/ijgp.2014.64.3.367
Ito, D., Koseki, S., & Ohtani, T. (2016). A brief school-based cognitive-behavioural intervention for Japanese adolescents with severe posttraumatic stress. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29(6), 577-580. doi: 10.1002/jts.22145
Shein-Szydlo, J., Sukhodolsky, D. G., Kon, D. S., Tejeda, M. M., Ramirez, E., & Ruchkin, V. (2016). A randomized controlled study of cognitive–behavioural therapy for posttraumatic stress in street children in Mexico city. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29(5), 1-9. doi: 10.1002/jts.22124
Lobregt-van Buuren, E., Sizoo, B., Mevissen, L., & Jongh, A. (2019). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as a feasible and potential effective treatment for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a history of adverse events. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(1), 151-164. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3687-6
Joiner, V. C., & Buttell, F. P. (2018). Investigating the usefulness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy in adolescent residential care. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 15(4), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/23761407.2018.1474155
Cigrang, J. A., Rauch, S. A. M., Mintz, J., Brundige, A., Avila, L. L., Bryan, C. J., Goodie, J. L., Peterson, A. L., & STRONG STAR Consortium (2015). Treatment of active duty military with PTSD in primary care: A follow-up report. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 36, 110-114. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.10.003
Unterhitzenberger, J., Eberle-Sejari, R., Rassenhofer, M., Sukale, T., Rosner, R., & Goldbeck, L. (2015). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy with unaccompanied refugee minors: A case series. BMC Psychiatry, 15(1), 1-9. doi: 10.1186/s12888-015-0645-0
Carneiro, J. M., & Bertelli, R. (2021). Cognitive-behaviour strategies applied to the treatment of PTSD: A review of clinical reports. Journal of Arts & Humanities, 10(7), 10-32. doi: 10.18533/jah.v10i07.2142
Retrieved: https://www.theartsjournal.org/index.php/site/article/view/2142/976
Bertelli, R. (2017). The generative process of professional and personal development of cognitive-behavioural clinical psychologists in training through the inclusion of strategies of expressive arts: A qualitative analysis and comparison. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 6(8), 37-46. doi: 10.18533/journal.v6i8.1244
Retrieved: https://theartsjournal.org/index.php/site/article/view/1244/600
Zheng, Z., Paterson, C., & Yap, K. (2013). Does Chinese medicine consultation share features and effects of cognitive-behavioural therapy? Using traditional acupuncture as an example. Australian Journal of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, 8(2), 6-15.
Wright, J. H., Basco, M. R., & Thase, M. E. (2008). Aprendendo a Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental: Um Guia Ilustrado. Porto Alegre: Artmed.
Beck, A. T., & Dozois, D. J. A. (2011). Cognitive therapy: Current status and future directions. Annual Review of Medicine, 62, 397-409. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med052209-100032
Clark, D. A., & Beck, A. T. (2011). Cognitive Therapy of Anxiety Disorders. New York: Guilford Press.
Chiesa A., & Serretti, A. (2010a). Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 187(3), 441- 453. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.08.011
Chiesa A., & Serretti, A. (2010b). A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness mediation. Psychological Medicine, 40(8), 1239-1252. doi: 10.1017/S0033291709991747
Marlatt, G.A. (2002). Buddhist philosophy and the treatment of addictive behaviour. Cognitive and Behavioural Practice, 9(1), 44-50. doi: 10.1016/S1077-7229(02)80039-6
Linehan, M.M. (1993). Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behaviour therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press. ISBN 978-1-60918-504-6
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Juliana Margarida Carneiro, Rosangela Bertelli
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors wishing to include figures, tables, or text passages that have already been published elsewhere are required to obtain permission from the copyright owner(s) for both the print and online format and to include evidence that such permission has been granted when submitting their papers. Any material received without such evidence will be assumed to originate from the authors.
