Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Interventions: Behavioral: Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD

• Registration Number: NCT00329992
• Lead Sponsor: University of Zurich

Brief Summary

Participants are randomly assigned to either 16 sessions of Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (Gersons et al. (2000) Journal Trauma Stress 13: 333-348), comprising psychoeducation, exposure, mementos and writing assignments, domain of meaning and integration, farewell ritual, or a minimal attention control group that will be offered 16 sessions of BEP after a waiting time of four months. Participants in the minimal attention control group receive monthly telephone calls and complete a symptom self monitoring diary (Tarrier, N. et al. (1999) Behavior Therapy 30: 597-605) for three weeks.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2004-04
• Study First Submitted: 2006-05-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-05-23
• Study First Posted: 2006-05-25
• Primary Completion: 2009-05
• Study Completion: 2009-12
• Status Verified: 2010-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-01-19
• Last Update Posted: 2010-01-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Clear memory of an "index" traumatic event (sufficient for constructing a scene to be used in exposure) that occurred no less than six months prior to entering the trial (Montgomery and Bech 2000)
• PTSD according to the DSM-IV, related to the index traumatic event, as measured with the CAPS: frequency ≥ 1 and intensity ≥ 2 for a symptom to be counted plus a minimum level of overall severity ≥ 50
• Not receiving other psychotherapy for PTSD during the 16 weeks of active treatment; psychotherapy for other problems, brief check-ins with an existing therapist, and attendance at self-help groups will be allowed
• If on psychoactive medication: on a stable medication regimen for a minimum of two months prior to entering the trial
• Aged between 18 and 70 years
• Sufficient proficiency in the German language to participate in BEP
• Consent to be randomized into the trial

Exclusion Criteria

• Current psychotic, bipolar, substance-related, or severe personality disorder
• Current severe depressive disorder
• Severe cognitive impairment or a history of organic mental disorder
• Evidence of PTSD or depression immediately prior to the index trauma
• Ongoing threat of traumatic exposure
• Prominent current suicidal or homicidal ideation
• Asylum seeking status

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treatment group	Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD	16 sessions Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy
Control group	Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD	Minimal attention waitlist group

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
PTSD symptom severity (CAPS, Blake et al. 1998; Post-therapy / post-waitlist comparison, controlled for baseline scores	Last month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Comorbidity: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV SCID I (First et al. 1996); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HADS (Zigmond and Snaith 1983)	Last month
Questions on Life Satisfaction FLZ (Henrich and Herschbach 2000)	Last month
Posttraumatic Growth Inventory PGI (Tedeschi and Calhoun 1996)	Since trauma
EEG, event-related potentials: P300	At assessment
Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory PTCI (Foa et al. 1999)	Last month
Post-therapy / post-waitlist comparison, follow-up at 6month post therapy	Last month
Ability to work and use of health care facilities	Last months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Psychiatric Department, University Hospital; 🇨🇭 Zurich, Switzerland