title: Cognitive processing therapy versus supportive counseling for acute stress disorder following assault: a randomized pilot trial.
abstract: The study tested the efficacy and tolerability of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for survivors of assault with acute stress disorder. Participants (N=30) were randomly allocated to CPT or supportive counseling. Therapy comprised six individual weekly sessions of 90-min duration. Independent diagnostic assessment for PTSD was conducted at posttreatment. Participants completed self-report measures of posttraumatic stress, depression, and negative trauma-related beliefs at pre-, posttreatment, and 6-month follow-up. Results indicated that both interventions were successful in reducing symptoms at posttreatment with no statistical difference between the two; within and between-group effect sizes and the proportion of participants not meeting PTSD criteria was greater in CPT. Treatment gains were maintained for both groups at 6-month follow-up.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. reg.nixon@flinders.edu.au
authors.forename: Reginald D V
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Nixon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*