Translating research findings to PTSD prevention: Results of a randomized–controlled pilot study

Abstract

Based on therapeutic studies revealing positive prognostic factors and on research findings revealing how trauma is processed, we developed the memory structuring intervention (MSI) in attempt to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The MSI attempts to shift processing of traumatic memory from uncontrollable somatosensory and affective processes to more controlled linguistic and cognitive processes by providing patients organization, labeling, and causality. In a single-blind randomized-controlled pilot study, 17 traffic accident victims at risk for PTSD (heart rate >94 BPM) were assigned to two MSI or two supportive-listening control sessions. Three months later, MSI patients reported significantly less frequent intrusive, arousal, and total PTSD symptoms than controls. A replication study with a larger sample is underway.

Does Early Psychological Intervention Promote Recovery From Posttraumatic Stress?

“…In a study yielding data comparable to those of , Gidron et al (2001) developed a two-session CBT intervention that was intended to promote memory reconstruction among individuals who had been involved in traffic accidents. The intervention was delivered over the telephone from 1 to 3 days after the accident.…”

Early interventions for the prevention of PTSD in adults: a systematic literature review

“…For example, a study by Gidron 29 reported that women participating in a given intervention had a lower frequency of PTSD symptoms than men taking part in the same intervention 29 , which contrasts with previous results from the same group 14 .…”

“…Results were divided according to the type of intervention (pharmacological or psychological). From the 29 articles reviewed, 16 reported significant effects of interventions for the prevention of PTSD or symptoms related to the disorder [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . Of these, 22 studies used psychological interventions and 7 used pharmacological interventions (Table 2).…”

“…Some authors have underscored the need for further investigations involving larger samples in order to confirm the data obtained to date 14,22,25 .…”

“…Only one of the articles included informed that the study sample had not been randomized 22 . Four of the studies were described by their authors as single-blind 13,14,18,22 , five did not include information about whether they were doubleblind trials or not 7,18 27,32,34 , and one informed that the trial was "not double-blind". In respect to the study design, only two articles did not describe the inclusion of comparison groups 25,30 .…”