Cognitive behavioral therapy for postdisaster distress: A promising transdiagnostic approach to treating disaster survivors.
OBJECTIVE
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for postdisaster distress (CBT-PD) is a transdiagnostic intervention that has been used following major disasters such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. In this study, we report findings from a community-based treatment program that offered CBT-PD to individuals who experienced Hurricane Sandy.


METHODS
Eight trained community therapists delivered CBT-PD to 342 adults who had been exposed to Hurricane Sandy. Participants were assessed at referral, pretreatment, intermediate treatment, posttreatment and 5-month follow-up.


RESULTS
The overall prepost effect size was 1.41, indicating large improvement pre to posttreatment. Gains were maintained at follow-up. Timing of the intervention did not affect outcome. Participants who received the intervention early (i.e., 10 to 15 months after Sandy) had the same improvement as those who received it later (i.e., 21 to 26 months after Sandy). Similarly, there was no difference in outcome between individuals with severe as compared with moderate distress at pretreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that CBT-PD is appropriate for a range of individuals with moderate to severe distress and that it has benefit both early on as well as two years postdisaster. Findings add to growing literature that CBT-PD should be considered as one important component of a larger disaster response system. (PsycINFO Database Record
National Center for PTSD.
Jessica L
JL
Hamblen
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.
Fran H
FH
Norris
Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
Kerry A
KA
Symon
Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
Thomas E
TE
Bow
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult