Sequence matters : Combining Prolonged Exposure and EMDR therapy for PTSD

Objective
Investigating the influence of the sequence in which two evidence-based trauma-focused treatments are offered to PTSD-patients.

 

Methods
PTSD-patients were treated using an intensive eight-day treatment program, combining Prolonged Exposure (PE) and EMDR therapy. Forty-four patients received a PE session in the morning and an EMDR session in the afternoon, while 62 patients received the reversed sequence (EMDR followed by PE). Outcome measures were PTSD symptom severity and subjective experiences.

 

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Post-Migration Stressors and Their Association With Symptom Reduction and Non-Completion During Treatment for Traumatic Grief in Refugees

Background: Resettled refugees exposed to trauma and loss are at risk to develop mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD). Post-migration stressors have been linked to poor mental health and smaller treatment effects.

 

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate reductions in PTSD and PCBD symptoms and to explore the presence of post-migration stressors and their associations with symptom change and non-completion in a traumatic grief focused treatment in a cohort of refugees.

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Feasibility and predictors of change of narrative exposure therapy for displaced populations : a repeated measures design

Background: Displaced victims of interpersonal violence, such as refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of sexual exploitation, are growing in numbers and are often suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At the same time, these victims are known to benefit less from trauma-focused therapy (TFT) and to be less compliant to treatment. The objective of this paper is to describe the rationale and research protocol of an ongoing trial that aims to evaluate different variables that might influence the feasibility of TFT for the study population.

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One-year clinical outcomes following theta burst stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder

Theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TBS) is a potential new treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We previously reported active intermittent TBS (iTBS) was associated with superior clinical outcomes for up to 1-month, in a sample of fifty veterans with PTSD, using a crossover design. In that study, participants randomized to the active group received a total of 4-weeks of active iTBS, or 2-weeks if randomized to sham. Results were superior with greater exposure to active iTBS, which raised the question of whether observed effects persisted over the longer-term.

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Trauma reactivation under propranolol among traumatized Syrian refugee children : preliminary evidence regarding efficacy

Background: There is a dearth of therapeutic solutions for traumatized young patients. Trauma reactivation conducted under the influence of the reconsolidation blocker propranolol (Reconsolidation Therapy) is a simple, cost-effective treatment option that has some promising initial results in adults suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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If only… a systematic review and meta-analysis of social, temporal and counterfactual comparative thinking in PTSD

Comparative thinking is ubiquitous in human cognition. Empirical evidence is accumulating that PTSD symptomatology is linked to various changes in social, temporal and counterfactual comparative thinking. However, no systematic review and meta-analysis in this line of research have been conducted to this date. We searched titles, abstracts and subject terms of electronic records in PsycInfo and Medline from inception to January 2019 with various search terms for social, temporal and counterfactual comparative thinking as well as PTSD.

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Recognizing hotspots in Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD by text and audio mining

Background: Identifying and addressing hotspots is a key element of imaginal exposure in Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP). Research shows that treatment effectiveness is associated with focusing on these hotspots and that hotspot frequency and characteristics may serve as indicators for treatment success.

Objective: This study aims to develop a model to automatically recognize hotspots based on text and speech features, which might be an efficient way to track patient progress and predict treatment efficacy.

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An epigenome-wide association study of posttraumatic stress disorder in US veterans implicates several new DNA methylation loci

Background: Previous studies using candidate gene and genome-wide approaches have identified epigenetic changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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Interactive Motion-Assisted Exposure Therapy for Veterans with Treatment-Resistant Posttraumatic Stress Disorder : A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) tend to benefit less from evidence-based treatments than other PTSD populations. A novel virtual reality and motion-assisted exposure therapy, called 3MDR, provides treatment in an immersive, personalized and activating context.

 

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Predictors of change during Narrative Exposure Therapy for displaced populations : A repeated measures design

Background: Displaced victims of interpersonal violence, such as refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of sexual exploitation, are growing in numbers, and are often suffering from a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At the same time these victims are known to benefit less from trauma-focused therapy, and to be less compliant to treatment. This paper describes the rationale and research protocol of an ongoing trial.

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