Early Trauma-Focused Therapy to Prevent PTSD
Author Information
Author(s): Kornør Hege, Winje Dagfinn, Ekeberg Øivind, Weisæth Lars, Kirkehei Ingvild, Johansen Kjell, Steiro Asbjørn
Primary Institution: Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services
Hypothesis
Does early trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TFCBT) effectively prevent chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in high-risk populations?
Conclusion
TFCBT is effective in preventing chronic PTSD in patients with acute stress disorder, but more research is needed to confirm these findings in broader populations.
Supporting Evidence
- Seven articles reporting results from five RCTs were included.
- The overall relative risk for a PTSD diagnosis was 0.56 at 3–6 months post treatment.
- Anxiety and depression scores were generally lower in the TFCBT groups than in the SC groups.
- Clinical meaningfulness was achieved for PTSD at 3–6 months in a post hoc subgroup analysis.
Takeaway
This study shows that a type of therapy called TFCBT can help people who have just experienced trauma to avoid developing PTSD later on.
Methodology
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing TFCBT to supportive counseling.
Potential Biases
Insufficient description of randomization procedures and allocation concealment in included studies.
Limitations
The evidence is based on studies from one research team, which may limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily adults with acute stress disorder, with a female majority and an average age ranging from 29 to 37 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.49
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.42 to 0.76
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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