Concentrated Exposure Therapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder - a Cohort Study

Haukeland University Hospital

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: PTSD

Treatments: Behavioral: Concentrated cognitive behavioral therapy

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05598099

B4DT-PTSD1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and disabling condition. Trauma-focused psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), are among the recommended first-line treatment alternatives. However, a substantial proportion of patients decline, drop-out or do not respond to current psychotherapies. Previous research suggests that intensive or concentrated formats of trauma-focused psychotherapy can lead to faster recover and lower attrition, but there are currently few studies of these approaches. The current study will investigate the acceptability. treatment satisfaction and preliminary changes in symptoms after four consecutive days of concentrated CBT for PTSD.

Full description

The study will investigate the research questions in three stages. In the first stage four patients will be treated individually. In the second stage two groups of four patients will be treated, with at least a 1:1 ratio between therapists and patients per group. In the third stage 30 patients will be treated in groups of about four patients per group, with at least a 1:1 ratio between therapists and patients per group. The primary outcome measure is changes in PTSD-related symptoms as measured using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Acceptability will be measured as the proportion of patients accepting treatment when offered, while attrition is measured as the proportion of patients that withdraw from treatment after it has started. Several other measures will be collected to measure treatment satisfaction, related symptoms, and functional impairment.

Enrollment: 42 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• fulfills DSM-5 criteria for PTSD
• One or more single traumas in adolescence or adulthood
• Speaks and writes Norwegian

Exclusion criteria

• New or unstable psychopharmacological treatment within last four weeks
• fulfills ICD-11 criteria for complex PTSD
• Ongoing substance abuse
• Ongoing danger of suicide
• Ongoing borderline personality disorder
• Ongoing psychosis
• Intellectual disability

Trial design

42 participants in 2 patient groups

Individual therapy over four consecutive days

Description:

Treatment will be delivered individually over four consecutive days

Treatment:

Behavioral: Concentrated cognitive behavioral therapy

Combined Individual and group therapy over four consecutive days

Description:

Treatment will be delivered in a mix of individual and group sessions over four consecutive days

Treatment:

Behavioral: Concentrated cognitive behavioral therapy