Leiden University Student Repository

Duin, Laura van (2020)

Is an Intensive Residential Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Programme Effective for Patients with a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse?

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

This study investigates the results of a high intensive residential trauma-focussed therapy programme. The main hypotheses were that (1) PTSD patients with a history of CSA report a clinically significant decrease in their PTSD symptoms after treatment, and (2) PTSD patients with a history of CSA would profit equally from trauma-focused treatment as PTSD patients without a history of CSA. Methods: Patients were 76 individuals who participated in a five-day treatment program consisting of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), prolonged exposure (PE) sessions, and trauma-sensitive yoga. The severity of PTSD symptoms was assessed with the PCL-5 at pre- and post-treatment, at one-week follow-up, and at a one-month follow-up. Pre-post differences were calculated and compared between the two trauma conditions (i.e., patients with a history of CSA, and no CSA). Results: Treatment resulted in a significant short term decrease of PTSD symptoms, which was mostly maintained at...Show moreThis study investigates the results of a high intensive residential trauma-focussed therapy programme. The main hypotheses were that (1) PTSD patients with a history of CSA report a clinically significant decrease in their PTSD symptoms after treatment, and (2) PTSD patients with a history of CSA would profit equally from trauma-focused treatment as PTSD patients without a history of CSA. Methods: Patients were 76 individuals who participated in a five-day treatment program consisting of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), prolonged exposure (PE) sessions, and trauma-sensitive yoga. The severity of PTSD symptoms was assessed with the PCL-5 at pre- and post-treatment, at one-week follow-up, and at a one-month follow-up. Pre-post differences were calculated and compared between the two trauma conditions (i.e., patients with a history of CSA, and no CSA). Results: Treatment resulted in a significant short term decrease of PTSD symptoms, which was mostly maintained at follow-up. Although patients with a history of CSA showed significantly higher PTSD symptom severity at pre- and post-treatment compared to those without a history of CSA, no significant pre-post differences were found between the two groups. Longer term decrease in PTSD symptoms was significant for patients without a history of CSA, but was not strong enough to be significant for patients with a history of CSA. Clinical significance of the treatment was demonstrated for half of the participants. Conclusion: Results suggest that intensive treatment for PTSD might be a possible therapeutic option for PTSD patients with a history of CSA.Show less

PTSD

childhood sexual abuse

treatment

EMDR

Author

Duin, Laura van

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Clinical Psychology

Supervisors

Berg, J. van den
Giezen, A. van

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en