Metacognitive therapy for PTSD: a preliminary investigation of a new brief treatment.
The effectiveness of a new treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is addressed. Treatment was based on a metacognitive theory of mechanisms by which natural traumatic processing is enabled or hindered by coping strategies. It suggests that elimination of worry/rumination, of maladaptive attention strategies, and enhancing metacognitive flexibility, will permit natural processing and a return to normal cognition. An A-B direct replication series (n = 6) with follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 18-41 months was implemented. Treatment commenced 3-10 months post-trauma. All patients showed large and statistically significant improvements in general emotion and specific PTSD measures. Gains were maintained at follow-up. Two further consecutively referred patients were treated at 8 and 12 months post-trauma to add to sample size (n = 8). Overall Post treatment effect sizes were large, ranging from 3.0 to 5.0. Further evaluations are clearly warranted.
Wells
Adrian
A
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester, Rawnsley Building, MRI, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK. adrian.wells@man.ac.uk
Sembi
Sundeep
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*