Ghasemi SM, Feiznia Z, Karbasi T, Roostaee M, Alipour Azami Z, Hosseini Arian N, Rayyat Moeini F. Cognitive analytic therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial.
Nord J Psychiatry 2024;
78:489-496. [PMID:
38832724 DOI:
10.1080/08039488.2024.2360978]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Post-traumatic stress disorder represents a multifaceted clinical entity with a profound impact on mental health. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cognitive analytic therapy on the manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From May 21, 2023, to July 7, 2023, we conducted a randomized control trial in the outpatient clinic of a psychiatry Hospital. Participants were Iran-Iraq war veterans (N = 40) with a confirmed diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. They were randomly allocated to cognitive analytic therapy and control groups. The primary outcome was re-experiencing, and the secondary outcomes included avoidance, hyperarousal, depression, anxiety, and numbness scores measured by appropriate questionnaires before and after the interventions. The cognitive analytic therapy group received a weekly program totaling 12 sessions of therapy adjunct to pharmacotherapy, each session lasting 90 min, and the control group received only pharmacotherapy.
RESULTS
Within-group analysis showed that cognitive analytic therapy (N = 19) decreased all symptom scores (all p < 0.001), while the control group (N = 20) showed a decrease in hyper-arousal, depression, and anxiety (p < 0.001) scores. Between-group analysis implied that cognitive analytic therapy was more successful than usual pharmacotherapy in decreasing all outcome scores (all p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
A 12-session program of cognitive analytic therapy was effective in alleviating re-experiencing, avoidance, hyper-arousal, depression, anxiety, and numbness in post-traumatic stress disorder. It was safe and acceptable by participants reflected by a high retention rate. We recommend the incorporation of cognitive analytic therapy to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
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