Foundations of Prolonged Exposure

Author(s):  
Edna B. Foa ◽  
Elizabeth A. Hembree ◽  
Barbara Olasov Rothbaum ◽  
Sheila A. M. Rauch

Foundations of prolonged exposure (PE) include (1) education about common reactions to trauma, what maintains trauma-related symptoms, and how PE reduces posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; (2) repeated in vivo confrontation with situations, people, or objects that the patient is avoiding because they are trauma-related and cause emotional distress such as anxiety, shame, or guilt; and (3) repeated, prolonged imaginal exposure to the trauma memories followed by processing the details of the event, the emotions, and the thoughts that the patient experienced during the trauma. The aim of in vivo and imaginal exposure is to enhance emotional processing of traumatic events by helping the patient face the trauma memories and reminders and process the emotions and thoughts, as well as the details of the trauma that emerge during revisiting experiences.

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole L. Hofman ◽  
Austin M. Hahn ◽  
Christine K. Tirabassi ◽  
Raluca M. Gaher

Abstract. Exposure to traumatic events and the associated risk of developing Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a significant and overlooked concern in the college population. It is important for current research to identify potential protective factors associated with the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms unique to this population. Emotional intelligence and perceived social support are two identified protective factors that influence the association between exposure to traumatic events and PTSD symptomology. The current study examined the mediating role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 443 trauma-exposed university students who completed online questionnaires. The results of this study indicated that social support mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and reported PTSD symptoms. Thus, emotional intelligence is significantly associated with PTSD symptoms and social support may play an integral role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD. The current study is the first to investigate the role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. These findings have important treatment and prevention implications with regard to PTSD.


Author(s):  
Dusko Stupar ◽  
Dejan Stevanovic ◽  
Panos Vostanis ◽  
Olayinka Atilola ◽  
Paulo Moreira ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Exposure to traumatic events in childhood is associated with the development and maintenance of various psychiatric disorders, but most frequently with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the types of traumatic events experienced and the presence and predictors of PTSD symptoms among adolescents from the general population from ten low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods Data were simultaneously collected from 3370 trauma-exposed adolescents (mean age = 15.41 [SD = 1.65] years, range 12–18; 1465 (43.5%) males and 1905 (56.5%) females) in Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Indonesia, Montenegro, Nigeria, the Palestinian Territories, the Philippines, Romania, and Serbia, with Portugal, a high-income country, as a reference point. The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for the DSM-5 (PTSD-RI-5) was used for the assessment of traumatic events and PTSD symptoms. Results The most frequently reported traumatic events were death of a close person (69.7%), witnessing violence other than domestic (40.5%), being in a natural disaster (34.4%) and witnessing violent death or serious injury of a close person (33.9%). In total, 28.5% adolescents endorsed two to three DSM-5 PTSD criteria symptoms. The rates of adolescents with symptoms from all four DSM-5 criteria for PTSD were 6.2–8.1% in Indonesia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro, and 9.2–10.5% in Philippines, Croatia and Brazil. From Portugal, 10.7% adolescents fall into this category, while 13.2% and 15.3% for the Palestinian Territories and Nigeria, respectively. A logistic regression model showed that younger age, experiencing war, being forced to have sex, and greater severity of symptoms (persistent avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity) were significant predictors of fulfilling full PTSD criteria. Conclusions Nearly every third adolescent living in LMICs might have some PTSD symptoms after experiencing a traumatic event, while nearly one in ten might have sufficient symptoms for full DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis. The findings can inform the generation of PTSD burden estimates, allocation of health resources, and designing and implementing psychosocial interventions for PTSD in LMICs.


Journalism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1308-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Lee ◽  
Eun Hye Ha ◽  
Jung Kun Pae

This study investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on Korean journalists and the contributing variables. Predicting variables included the exposure to traumatic events, coping strategy, social support, optimism, negative beliefs, and the journalists’ occupational perspectives. A total of 367 Korean journalists participated in the survey. The findings revealed that, first, Korean journalists had suffered severely from PTSD symptoms according to the prevalence rate. Second, the extent of traumatic event exposure, the length of career, the use of dysfunctional coping strategy, a lack of social support, and negative beliefs were identified as significantly related variables. Finally, occupational perspectives showed meaningful associations with development of the symptoms. This study provided an empirical analysis of Korean journalists’ experiences of traumatic events and psychological stress for the first time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 4522
Author(s):  
Chris M. Hoeboer ◽  
Danielle A. C. Oprel ◽  
Rianne A. De Kleine ◽  
Brian Schwartz ◽  
Anne-Katharina Deisenhofer ◽  
...  

Background: Differences in effectiveness among treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are typically small. Given the variation between patients in treatment response, personalization offers a new way to improve treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of psychotherapy outcome in PTSD and to combine these into a personalized advantage index (PAI). Methods: We used data from a recent randomized controlled trial comparing prolonged exposure (PE; n = 48), intensified PE (iPE; n = 51), and skills training (STAIR), followed by PE (n = 50) in 149 patients with childhood-abuse-related PTSD (CA-PTSD). Outcome measures were clinician-assessed and self-reported PTSD symptoms. Predictors were identified in the exposure therapies (PE and iPE) and STAIR+PE separately using random forests and subsequent bootstrap procedures. Next, these predictors were used to calculate PAI and to retrospectively determine optimal and suboptimal treatment in a leave-one-out cross-validation approach. Results: More depressive symptoms, less social support, more axis-1 diagnoses, and higher severity of childhood sexual abuse were predictors of worse treatment outcomes in PE and iPE. More emotion regulation difficulties, lower general health status, and higher baseline PTSD symptoms were predictors of worse treatment outcomes in STAIR+PE. Randomization to optimal treatment based on these predictors resulted in more improvement than suboptimal treatment in clinician assessed (Cohens’ d = 0.55) and self-reported PTSD symptoms (Cohens’ d = 0.47). Conclusion: Personalization based on PAI is a promising tool to improve therapy outcomes in patients with CA-PTSD. Further studies are needed to replicate findings in prospective studies.


Author(s):  
Kelly R. Chrestman ◽  
Eva Gilboa-Schechtman ◽  
Edna B. Foa

Chapter 1 presents an overview of the treatment program, and explores what posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is, what prolonged exposure therapy for adolescents (PE-A) entails, emotional processing theory, and outlines the treatment program's structure.


Author(s):  
Barbara Olasov Rothbaum ◽  
Edna B. Foa ◽  
Elizabeth A. Hembree

Chapter 1 introduces and defines Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy, and Emotional Processing Theory, along with a background to the development of the PE treatment program, its risks and benefits, alternative treatments, the role of medications, and an outline of the program and its structure.


Author(s):  
Barbara Olasov Rothbaum ◽  
Edna B. Foa ◽  
Elizabeth A. Hembree ◽  
Sheila A. M. Rauch

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a fear and stress disorder that may develop after an event that is experienced or witnessed and involves actual or perceived threat to life or physical integrity to oneself or a loved one. This chapter discusses the characteristics of the disorder and explains both prolonged exposure (PE) therapy and Emotional Processing Theory. Readers will learn about the benefits and risks of the treatment as well as what is involved. The main tools of this therapy program, imaginal exposure and in vivo exposure, are presented.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-49
Author(s):  
Justyna Kosydar-Bochenek ◽  
Bogumił Lewandowski ◽  
Dorota Ozga ◽  
Krystyna Woźniak

Abstract The profession of a paramedic involves a constant contact with traumatic events - road accidents, disasters, acts of violence and so on. As a consequence of such frequent and long-lasting exposure to traumatic events, paramedics are prone to developing PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). This is a chronic disorder impacting cognitive, emotional, behavioral and somatic experiences. As a result of a prolonged exposure to stressful events, such condition can be life threatening. There are two ways of diagnosing PTSD: structured interviews and self-rating questionnaires (self-rating scales). The researcher should choose the best method possible relying not only on its procedure. In addition, merit based factors and psychometric parameters should be taken into consideration. The present article provides an overview of both Polish as well as foreign PTSD assessment methods, which could be incorporated into the research conducted in a group of paramedics.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (4-6) ◽  
pp. 366-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melba A Hernandez-Tejada ◽  
Stephanie Hamski ◽  
David Sánchez-Carracedo

Objective Prolonged exposure is characterized by reported dropout rates ranging from 25% to 40%. This premature attrition is also observed in other evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder. While home-based telehealth delivery of prolonged exposure resolves logistical barriers to care such as travel time and cost, dropout appears unaffected. A previous study on dropouts from prolonged exposure delivered via telehealth found that Veterans, particularly those receiving care via telehealth, reported problems with in vivo exposure and that having a peer to offer support during in vivo exposure assignments might have prevented their attrition from treatment. Methods The present pilot study treatment was designed in a manner consistent with the aforementioned Veteran suggestions, specifically to involve peers offering verbal support and encouragement during in vivo exposure homework. Such a treatment modification might be particularly useful for those receiving care via telehealth, given increased difficulties with exposure reported when this treatment delivery modality is used. It was hypothesized that dropouts would agree to reengage in treatment with a peer and would subsequently evince improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression scores as a result of this treatment reengagement. Results Of 82 dropouts from prolonged exposure, 29 reentered treatment when offered peer support during exposure (12 in telehealth and 17 in person). Conclusion Treatment reentry was effective insofar as indices of both posttraumatic stress disorder and depression were significantly reduced in both telehealth and in person groups, indicating that using peers in this way may be an effective means by which to return Veterans to care, and ultimately reduce symptomatology.


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