Can clients get better by having an intensive episode of care? Clients attending for 10 to 15 sessions of therapy over a two to three week period might sound counter intuitive when the problem is complex, chronic and severe PTSD for many years. Sciarrino and colleagues (2020) completed a systematic
Clinicians always like to know how to help their clients stay in therapy. Some research has focused on demographic and pre-treatment predictors of dropout, and findings have been inconsistent. Other research has focussed on practical matters such as difficulty with scheduling appointments and these have previously been highlighted on this
Dedert and colleagues examined this question with 575 veterans seeking treatment for PTSD in a VA outpatient clinic. They examined the association of preparatory group treatment with engagement in and treatment response to subsequent trauma-focused psychotherapies, cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE). Nearly four hundred (391) veterans
There are a number of effective treatments for PTSD. However, some clients are left with residual symptoms even after successful treatment. This also appears to be associated with the common comorbidity of depression. These are important considerations for treatment and client quality of life. Zayfert and DeViva (2004) reported of
How best to treat this often-residual symptom can be a challenge. Knowing what kind of approach to use is part of the challenge for clinicians. Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) focuses on nightmares exclusively, CBT-I focusses on insomnia, a side effect of nightmares. A 2012 meta-analysis by Casement and Swanson concluded
This is a question often heard in supervision. When it comes to Cognitive Processing Therapy and this question, there is research to help guide clinicians. LoSavio, et al. (2019) examined unhelpful beliefs that therapist might have about CPT (in CPT language “stuck points”) and PTSD treatment. For example, “If I
It might seem counter intuitive, but there is evidence that supports the treatment of co-morbid PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) with CPT. Crocker et al. (2019) trialed a variation of CPT modified for mTBI; SMART-CPT combined compensatory cognitive training components of Cognitive Symptom Management and Rehabilitation Therapy (CogSMART)
The simple answer is YES. Rosner and colleagues (2019) put this to test via a multicenter, randomized clinical trial of 88 participants (aged 14-21 years), with developmentally adapted Cognitive Processing Therapy (D-CPT). Cognitive Processing Therapy was adapted by the addition of some of the following: • Inclusion of a motivational
Clients with PTSD are often distressed. Concern about their wellbeing is often part of the process for a clinician. Sometimes part of this concern is because of the client’s suicidal ideation. At times this concern includes if treatment will reduce or increase suicidal ideation. Brown et al. (2019) examined prolonged
Conversations about dropout and attendance can often be difficult with client’s who have PTSD and may feel compelled by avoidance to stay away from therapy. Now there is more CPT research to help your client understand the importance of completing therapy. Holmes et al. (2019) examined patterns of dose response