title: A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of brief-CBT for patients with symptoms of posttraumatic stress following a motor vehicle crash.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are leading contributors to the global burden of disease. Patients attending accident and emergency (A&E) after an MVC may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is evidence that brief cognitive behavioural therapy (B-CBT) can be effective in treating PTSD; however, there are few studies of the use of B-CBT to treat PTSD in MVC survivors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effects of B-CBT and a self-help program on the severity of psychological symptoms in MVC survivors at risk of developing PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty participants who attended A&E after a MVC were screened for PTSD symptoms and randomized to a 4-weekly session B-CBT or a 4-week self-help program (SHP) booklet treatment conditions. Psychological assessments were completed at baseline (1-month post-MVC) and posttreatment (3- and 6-month follow-ups) by utilizing Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant improvements in the measures of anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms over time. Participants treated with B-CBT showed greater reductions in anxiety at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups, and in depression at 6-month follow-up. A comparison of effect size favoured B-CBT for the reduction of anxiety and depression symptoms measured by HADS. A high level of pretreatment anxiety and depression were predictive of negative outcome at 6-month follow-up in the SHP condition. There was no differential effect on PTSD symptoms measured by IES-R.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This trial supports the efficacy of providing B-CBT as a preventive strategy to improve psychological symptoms after an MVC.
authors.affiliation: Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Kitty K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Frendi W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Valda W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*