Emotional processing of trauma narratives is a predictor of outcome in emotion-focused therapy for complex trauma.

Abstract

This study tested a model of emotional processes over the course of emotion-focused therapy for trauma. The model of emotional processing (Pascual-Leone & Greenberg, 2007) proposes a sequential order of shifting from "early expressions of distress" to "primary adaptive emotion" that aid in adaptive functioning. Thirty-eight participants were taken from a randomized clinical trial to examine in-session process from video recordings of treatment. The sample had an average age (M = 44.3 years) and the majority was female (55.3%) and of European descent (89.5%). The Classification of Affective Meaning States was used to examine changes in emotional processes during trauma narratives in both early and late sessions. Processes were related to treatment outcome as measured by the Impact of Event Scale and the Resolution Scale. Sessions later in treatment showed a higher frequency of primary adaptive emotions compared with early sessions (p < .001, r = .76). Primary adaptive emotions were also more frequent in good-outcome cases (p = .017). Using emotional processes as predictors correctly classified 67% of poor-outcome cases and 80% of good-outcome cases. Increases in primary adaptive emotions from early to late treatment sessions more than doubled the odds (2.2) of having a good treatment outcome. The order of emotion was concordant with the sequential model in early sessions and partially concordant in late sessions. Findings have implications for guiding therapeutic process in a productive manner that leads to trauma recovery. Changes in discrete emotions were related to good treatment outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).