Intensive treatment for PTSD

Could intensive, daily PTSD treatment outperform traditional methods by speeding recovery and reducing dropout rates?

Could intensive, daily PTSD treatment outperform traditional methods by speeding recovery and reducing dropout rates?

We are evaluating the effectiveness, recovery speed, and cost-effectiveness of intensive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a randomized controlled trial, comparing it to the gold-standard trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-T).

PTSD is a prevalent psychiatric disorder linked to numerous subsequent health issues. While trauma-focused CBT-T, such as prolonged exposure, is recommended as a first-line treatment, its typical duration of 3-5 months often leads to high dropout rates and less significant symptom improvement.

In response to these challenges, intensive trauma-focused treatments (I-PE) have been developed, involving daily sessions over five consecutive days. This approach aims to enhance treatment retention by increasing session frequency. Preliminary research suggests that I-PE can be as effective as weekly sessions but with faster recovery and reduced dropout rates.

This trial will directly compare I-PE with gold-standard CBT-T to determine if it provides a more efficient and cost-effective treatment option for PTSD. If successful, I-PE could represent a significant advancement in PTSD care, offering a novel and superior treatment method for Swedish health care.

Group members involved in the project