title: Alternatives to debriefing and modifications to cognitive behavior therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychological debriefing uses brief unsystematic exposure, and is ineffective for posttraumatic stress symptoms and disorder. Systematic exposure alone and cognitive restructuring alone are each effective. Other approaches too may be useful.
  
  
  METHODS
  The treatment of 3 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients is detailed in which there was no exposure to the main traumatic event. There was exposure to related cues in case 1, exposure to related and other cues followed by well-being therapy (WBT) in case 2 and WBT in case 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3 patients improved enduringly, confirming earlier findings that exposure to the main trauma is not essential for PTSD to improve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A study is needed of therapeutic mechanisms in PTSD and of the value of WBT in a randomized controlled trial.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belaise
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: Isaac M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*