The effect of imaginal exposure length on outcome of treatment for PTSD.
The effects of prolonged imaginal exposure sessions (60 minutes; n=60) were compared with those of shorter exposure sessions (30 minutes, n=32) for patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Consistent with the authors' hypothesis, patients who received 30-minute imaginal exposure sessions showed less within-session habituation than patients who received 60-minute exposure sessions. However, no differences between patients who received 60-minute and 30-minute exposure sessions emerged on improvement in PTSD-symptoms, state anxiety, depression, and end-state functioning, both at posttreatment and at 1-month follow-up. No group differences were found with regard to between-sessions habituation, number of sessions, and dropout rate. Results suggest that 30-minute imaginal exposure sessions are as effective as 60-minute exposure sessions and that within-session habituation may not be a necessary condition for successful treatment of PTSD. Future research is needed to replicate these findings and extend them to other clinical populations.
van Minnen
Agnes
A
GGZ Nijmegen, Outpatient Clinic of Anxiety Disorders, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. avminnen@ggznijmegen.nl
Foa
Edna B
EB
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome