title: A randomized controlled study of single-session behavioural treatment of earthquake-related post-traumatic stress disorder using an earthquake simulator.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brief interventions are needed in dealing with traumatic stress problems in large survivor populations after devastating earthquakes. The present study examined the effectiveness of a single session of exposure to simulated tremors in an earthquake simulator and self-exposure instructions in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were consecutively recruited from among survivors screened during field surveys in the disaster region in Turkey. Thirty-one earthquake survivors with PTSD were assigned either to a single session of behavioural treatment (n=16) or to repeated assessments (RA; n=15). Assessments in the treatment group were at 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 1-2 years post-treatment. The RA cases were assessed at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks after trial entry, after which they received the same treatment and were followed up at 4, 12, 24 weeks and 1-2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between-group treatment effects at week 8 were significant on measures of fear, PTSD and self- and assessor-rated global improvement. Improvement rates were 40% at week 4, 72% at week 12, 80% at week 24, and 80% at 1-2-years' follow-up, with large effect sizes on fear and PTSD measures. Post-session reduction in fear of earthquakes and increased sense of control over fear at follow-up related to improvement in PTSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provided further evidence of the effectiveness of a single session of behavioural treatment in reducing fear and PTSD in earthquake survivors. Future research needs to examine the usefulness of earthquake simulators in increasing psychological preparedness for earthquakes.
authors.affiliation: Section of Trauma Studies, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, University of London, UK. spjumeb@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Başoglu
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salcioglu
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Livanou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004190:Disasters; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors; D014421:Turkey