The effectiveness of a remote intensive trauma-focused treatment programme for PTSD

Background: Limited research has addressed the efficacy of remote intensive trauma-focused treatment programmes.

Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a remote intensive treatment programme in reducing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), general psychiatric symptoms, symptoms of depression, and the interference of PTSD symptoms in daily life among individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

Method: A cohort of 26 patients diagnosed with PTSD underwent a six-day remote treatment programme, which included prolonged exposure, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), physical activity, and psycho-education. PTSD symptoms, general psychiatric symptoms, symptoms of depression, and interference of PTSD symptoms in daily life were assessed at screening, pre-treatment, post-treatment, 1-week, 4-week, and at 6-month follow-up.

Results: A significant decrease in PTSD symptoms, measured by the CAPS-5 and PCL-5, was observed from screening to 4-week follow-up (respectively, d = 1.42, d = 1.15), and sustained improvements were noted at 6-month follow-up (respectively, d = 1.70, d = 1.29). Additionally, a significant decrease in general psychiatric symptoms (d = 1.18), symptoms of depression (d = 0.85), and interference of PTSD symptoms in daily life (d = 0.92) was found from pre-treatment to 4-week follow-up. At 4-week follow-up, 56% of the participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD according to the CAPS-5, 73.1% showed improvement, and no patients worsened based on the Reliable Change Index.

Discussion: The results of this study demonstrate that a remote intensive trauma-focused treatment was effective in reducing PTSD symptoms and secondary outcomes in individuals with PTSD due to multiple traumatic experiences. To enhance the robustness of these findings, future studies should incorporate controlled designs, larger sample sizes, and extended follow-up durations.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Intensive trauma-focused treatment can be performed remotely.
• Remote intensive trauma-focused treatment is successful in reducing PTSD symptoms.
• Remote intensive trauma-focused treatment is successful in reducing general psychiatric symptoms, symptoms of depression, and interference of PTSD symptoms in daily life.
• Symptom decrease was maintained at 4-week and 6-month follow-up.