Citation

Foa EB, Zoellner LA, Feeny NC. J. Trauma. Stress 2006; 19(1): 29-43.

Affiliation

Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA. foa@mail.med.upenn.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jts.20096

PMID

16568461

Abstract

Ninety female recent assault survivors who met symptom criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomized to one of three interventions: Brief Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, which focused on processing the traumatic event (B-CBT); assessment condition (AC); or supportive counseling (SC). Within 4 weeks of an assault, participants met weekly with a therapist for four 2-hr sessions. Across all interventions, participants reported decreases in PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety over time. At postintervention, participants in B-CBT reported greater decreases in self-reported PTSD severity and a trend toward lower anxiety than those in SC. At 3-month follow-up, participants in B-CBT evidenced lower general anxiety than those in SC and a trend toward lower self-reported PTSD severity. At last available follow-up (on average, 9-months postassault), all three interventions were generally similar in outcome. These findings suggest that a trauma-focused intervention aimed at those with severe PTSD symptoms after an assault can accelerate recovery.

Language: en