Citation

Başoğlu M, Salcioğlu E, Livanou M. J. Behav. Ther. Exp. Psychiatry 2009; 40(1): 50-58.

Affiliation

Section of Trauma Studies, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, University of London, England, UK. spjumeb@iop.kcl.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jbtep.2008.04.001

PMID

18554573

Abstract

Studies showed that earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder could be reduced by a single session of therapist instructions for self-exposure to fear cues. Eight single-case experimental studies examined whether such instructions were as effective when delivered through a self-help manual after an initial assessment. After two baseline assessments conducted at the participants homes, the manual was delivered to the participants, who were then assessed at week 10 (post-treatment) and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month post-treatment. After minimal improvement during the baseline, treatment achieved marked improvement in seven survivors, leading to effect sizes comparable to those obtained by therapist-delivered treatment. Self-help appears to be a promising approach in cost-effective survivor care.

Language: en