Brief psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorders.

Abstract

A large-scale study of the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic methods for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorders was conducted. The sample consisted of 112 persons suffering from serious disorders resulting from traumatic events (bereavement, acts of violence, and traffic accidents) that had taken place not more than 5 years before. Trauma desensitization, hypnotherapy, and psychodynamic therapy were tested for their effectiveness in comparison with a waiting-list control group. The results indicated that treated cases were significantly lower in trauma-related symptoms than the control group. The posttraumatic stress disorder (American Psychiatric AsSociation, 1980) describes psychological symptoms resulting from extremely serious life events that substantially hinder normal functioning. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other members of the mental health profession are increasingly being confronted with individuals suffering from this disorder. Although an extensive literature exists concerning the results of adjustment to traumatic events, little research has been conducted on the effectiveness of specific psychotherapeutic methods for the treatment of post'traumatic stress disorders. This article describes a study of the effectiveness of three psychotherapeutic methods for treating these disorders. Numerous studies have been conducted exploring the effectiveness of psychotherapy in general (Smith, Glass, & Miller, 1980). Because the results did not reveal many differences in effectiveness among different methods, it is considered necessary to specify the treatments as well as the research objectives. This call for specification and the dearth of similar research on the treatment ofposttraumatic stress disorders make the evaluation of the effectiveness of psychotherapy after traumatic experiences a useful undertaking. During the 1970s, a series of hijackings took the Netherlands by surprise. It was this series of events that led to a large-scale research project aimed, first, at determining the effects of and adaptation to diverse shocking events, such as war situations, disasters, accidents, assaults, or the death of a loved one. The This article reports on the research findings of the Psychotraurna project. This study was conducted by the Institute for Stress Research and subsidized by the Prevention Fund and the National Foundation for Mental Health. Additional financing was provided by the University of Wageningen and the Welkom Foundation in Arnbem. The authors thank J. Bijketk, J. D. Van der Ploeg, and J. Vennix for their advice and support.