Impact of three variants of prolonged exposure therapy on comorbid diagnoses in patients with childhood abuse-related PTSD

We examined the treatment effects on co-morbid diagnoses of depressive, anxiety, obsessive compulsive, substance abuse, psychotic, eating and personality disorders in a sample of patients with PTSD related to childhood abuse. Outcomes were assessed with clinical interviews at baseline, post-treatment and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. All variants of PE led to a decrease from baseline to post-treatment in diagnoses of depressive, anxiety, substance use and personality disorders. Improvements were sustained during follow-up. We found an additional decrease in the number of patients that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of a depressive disorder between 6- and 12-month follow-up. No significant changes were observed for the presence of OCD, psychotic and eating disorders. Findings suggest that it is effective to treat PTSD related to childhood abuse with trauma-focused treatments since our 14-to-16 weeks PE for PTSD resulted in reductions in comorbid diagnoses of depressive, anxiety, substance use and personality disorders.PMID:38411129 | DOI:10.1080/16506073.2024.2318729

Source: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy - February 27, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Chris M Hoeboer Marie-Louise J Kullberg Danielle A C Oprel Maartje Schoorl Agnes van Minnen Niki Antypa Joanne Mouthaan Rianne A de Kleine Willem van der Does Source Type: research