Cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a review

Abstract

Background:Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric sequel to a stressful event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been used in the management of PTSD for many years. This paper reviews the effectiveness of CBT for the treatment of PTSD following various types of trauma, its potential to prevent PTSD, methods used in CBT, and reflects on the mechanisms of action of CBT in PTSD.Methods:Electronic databases, including PubMed, were searched for articles on CBT and PTSD. Manual searches were conducted for cross-references in the relevant journal sites.Results:The current literature reveals robust evidence that CBT is a safe and effective intervention for both acute and chronic PTSD following a range of traumatic experiences in adults, children, and adolescents. However, nonresponse to CBT by PTSD can be as high as 50%, contributed to by various factors, including comorbidity and the nature of the study population. CBT has been validated and used across many cultures, and has been used successfully by community therapists following brief training in individual and group settings. There has been effective use of Internet-based CBT in PTSD. CBT has been found to have a preventive role in some studies, but evidence for definitive recommendations is inadequate. The effect of CBT has been mediated mostly by the change in maladaptive cognitive distortions associated with PTSD. Many studies also report physiological, functional neuroimaging, and electroencephalographic changes correlating with response to CBT.Conclusion:There is scope for further research on implementation of CBT following major disasters, its preventive potential following various traumas, and the neuropsychological mechanisms of action.

The Effect of Group Counseling Based on Cognitive-Behavioral Approach on Pregnancy-Specific Stress and Anxiety

“…Today, a variety of nonpharmacological interventions are available to the public for the control of stress and anxiety, with the most common being counseling and training by nurses and midwives as healthcare providers with a significant role in preventing pregnancy and postpartum stress and anxiety (22). Counseling or therapy is a stress management strategy that can be offered with a variety of different approaches, including the cognitive-behavioral approach (23).…”

A narrative review of the occurrence of posttraumatic stress responses in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors

“…74 In adults, the treatment literature indicates that effective PTSD interventions involve short-term and cognitive behavioral models. 75,76 Despite a growing literature base supporting the efficacy of these treatments for PTSD in noncancer populations, a limited number of studies have investigated treatment of PTSS in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Stemming from a model that conceptualizes the diagnosis of childhood cancer as a potentially traumatic event, Kazak et al 77 developed the Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program (SCCIP) for adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their families.…”

Pediatric anxiety disorders: from neuroscience to evidence-based clinical practice

“…More specific and comprehensive reviews about the following topics can be found in the literature: prevalence, 15,[18][19][20] behavioral inhibition, [190][191][192] behavioral genetics, 48,52 genetics, 55,56,193,194 gene vs. environment interplay, 52,70 pathophysiology, 31,71 neural substrates, 71 normal development of fears, 195 psychopharmacological treatment, [196][197][198] and CBT. 164,[199][200][201] Conclusions Anxiety disorders are prevalent, associated with a number of negative life outcomes, and currently underrecognized and under-treated. The etiology involves both genes and environmental factors in a complex interplay.…”