The Effectiveness of Behavioral Interventions in Adults with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder during Clinical Rehabilitation: A Rapid Review

Abstract

Background: This review examined the effectiveness of behavioral interventions for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) triggered by physical injury or medical trauma. It discusses implications in support of rehabilitation management for COVID-19 survivors diagnosed with PTSD. Methods: This study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Interim Guidance from the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group. The authors searched for randomized control trials in PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL databases up to 31 March 2021. Results: Five studies (n = 459) met the inclusion criteria. Each study measured a different comparison of interventions. The certainty of the evidence was judged to be very low for all outcomes. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptom reduction was found to be in favor of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive function improvements were observed in favor of the cognitive processing therapy control intervention. Conclusions: Overall, there is uncertainty about whether behavioral interventions are effective in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving functioning and quality of life when the disorder is triggered by a physical or medical trauma rather than a psychological trauma. Further research should investigate their efficacy in the context of rehabilitation management and gather evidence on this population.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing versus Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The American Psychological Association strongly recommends PE in its professional practice guidelines for PTSD treatment. CBT has been proven as an effective treatment to reduce the negative thoughts associated with PTSD [ 21 ] because it addresses patients’ memories, thoughts, or feelings related to traumatic events [ 22 ]. Both EMDR and CBT include exposure and cognitive components.…”

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“…The term has been associated with the pediatric asthma program he and his associates have been running since the middle of the 1960s. They acknowledge that the early works of Albert Bandura were a major influence on their work (Gimigliano et al, 2022). According to Thomas and his colleagues, the word "self-management" was chosen since it suggested that the person was an active partner in the treatment (Creer, Ipacs, & Creer, 1983;Creer, Renne, & Christian, 1976).…”