Facing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Brazil: A Survey of Therapist Practices

Abstract

Background Brazil is a large, diverse, and heterogeneous country, and to date few studies have delved into the prevalence of PTSD within its population, or into how it has been treated. The aim of the present study was to report and discuss the results of a survey addressing the professional approaches adopted by Brazilian clinicians in treating PTSD. Methods Exploratory cross-sectional study targeted at therapists that had treated at least one PTSD case throughout their career. The data were collected from February 27th to May 8th, 2020, from a convenience sample (n = 208) of psychologists and physicians using an online form. The main subject matters were the psychotherapeutic treatments; diagnostic procedures; screening and assessment techniques; and difficulties and challenges. Results Less than half of the total sample (48.1%) declared they used instruments for screening and diagnosing. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was the most adhered to theoretical model (49%), more than 20 theoretical affiliations were mentioned, and 86 clinicians (41.3%) disclosed adherence to more than one theory, denoting an eclectic group. The individual case analysis, the scientific evidence, and treatment acceptance were ranked the most relevant criteria when selecting treatment. The most empirically supported trauma-focused psychotherapies were not among the more widely used. Lack of PTSD content in undergraduate courses (38.5%) was considered an important barrier to effective treatment. Conclusions The results may help mental health policymakers and providers devise strategies to bridge the gap between research and actual service delivery. The apparent short supply of training and supervision on evidence-based therapies poses an opportunity for colleges and other educational centers.