title: Feasibility and outcome of dialogical exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study with 25 outpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The research on psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stems predominantly from a cognitive-behavioral orientation while other approaches are underrepresented. We evaluated dialogical exposure in trauma therapy (DET), a treatment for PTSD combining cognitive-behavioral elements with an interpersonal, gestalt-based framework.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this uncontrolled pilot trial, 25 PTSD patients were treated with DET in an outpatient setting and 21 completed therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in self-rated PTSD symptoms from pre- to posttreatment. Effect sizes were large in the completer sample and moderate to large in the intent-to-treat sample. General psychopathology also decreased significantly. The dropout rate was rather low at 16%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that further research on DET as a treatment for PTSD is warranted.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Ludwig Maximilian University Munich , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Butollo
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karl
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henkel
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005864:Gestalt Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: contact, PTSD; dialogical exposure; gestalt therapy; trauma