Abstract
BackgroundAn estimated 16.9% of adult Brazilian women experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Almost half of women who suffer such trauma develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Markowitz et al. (2015) found that an affect-focused non-exposure therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), adapted to treat PTSD (IPT-PTSD) had similar efficacy to and lower dropout rates than Prolonged Exposure (PE), the “gold standard,” most studied exposure therapy for PTSD.ObjectiveTo assess attrition rates in IPT of sexually assaulted women recently diagnosed with PTSD.MethodsThe current study derives from a two-arm, randomized controlled clinical trial of sexually assaulted women with PTSD who received 14 weeks of standardized treatment with either IPT-PTSD or sertraline. Sample: The 32 patients in the IPT treatment arm were analyzed.ResultsOverall attrition was 29%. One patient was withdrawn because of suicidal risk; four dropped out pre-treatment, and five dropped out during IPT-PTSD. If the excluded patient is considered a dropout, the rate increases to 31%.DiscussionThis is the first formal study of IPT for PTSD specifically due to sexual assault. IPT attrition approximated dropout rates in PE studies, which are often around 30%, and to the sertraline group in our study (34.5%). Further research should compare IPT and PE among sexually assaulted women to clarify our hypothesis that IPT could be an attractive alternative approach for this patient group.
Highlights
Psychotherapy attrition among patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major clinical challenge (Bradley et al, 2005; Perkonigg et al, 2005)
Patients diagnosed with PTSD and comorbid major depression were more likely to complete Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) treatment than prolonged exposure (PE) (Markowitz, 2016)
No difference emerged for other trauma types
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual violence as any non-consensual sexual activity in which one person uses force or takes advantage of another (World Health Organization [WHO], 2011). It is considered a traumatic event, with high risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared. Interpersonal Psychotherapy Following Sexual Assault to conditional PTSD risk of other trauma types such as kidnapping (27.5%) or natural disaster (8.4%). Almost half of sexually assaulted women develop PTSD (Foa et al, 1991; Luz et al, 2016), a trauma-triggered psychiatric disorder that entails intense psychological distress and significant social, occupational, and interpersonal dysfunction. Almost half of women who suffer such trauma develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Markowitz et al (2015) found that an affect-focused nonexposure therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), adapted to treat PTSD (IPT-PTSD) had similar efficacy to and lower dropout rates than Prolonged Exposure (PE), the “gold standard,” most studied exposure therapy for PTSD
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