Changes in Coping and Negative Cognitions as Mechanisms of Change in Online Treatment for Rape ‐Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

We examined trauma‐related cognitions and coping as treatment m echanisms among 46 women who completed a randomized clinical trial of a CBT‐based, telepsychology‐delivered interactive program for rape survivors. The results indicated that both the interactive program,d = 1.5, and the active control condition, a psychoeducational website,d = 1.4, resulted in large reductions in posttest PTSD symptoms. Analysis of residual gain scores showed that reductions in the three types of assessed trauma ‐related cognitions were strongly related to reductions in PTSD symptoms among women assigned to the interactive program,rs = .60 –.79, but only weakly related to symptom reduction among those assigned to active control,rs = .06 –.31. The results also suggest that increases in trauma‐related approach coping were weakly related to reductions in PTSD symptoms among participants in the interactive program,rs = −.16 and −.17, but, conversely, decreases in trauma‐related approach coping were weakly related to reductions in PTSD symptoms among those in the active control group,rs = .07 and .28. Reductions in avoidance coping were modestly related to reductions in PTSD symptoms among women in the interactive program,rs = .38 and .38, but unrelated to changes in PTSD symptoms among those assigned to the active control,rs = .03 and .05. Implications for future work examining mechanisms of change for PTSD treatments are discussed.
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research