Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder involving re-experiencing, avoidance, and increased sense of threat following one or more traumatic events. Recent studies have focused on both psychological and pharmacological methods of preventing PTSD following trauma exposure, yet no universal interventions have been recommended. Therefore Bisson et al. (2021) conducted a review of studies that investigated efficacy of universal, specific, and indicated intervention to prevent PTSD within 3-months of trauma exposure.
Attention Bias Modification Training (ABMT) prior to trauma exposures in individuals likely to experience trauma was found to be more effective in decreasing PTSD symptoms than no intervention. ABMT was not found to be superior to other pre-trauma interventions, such as attention control training or stress inoculation training.
Evidence suggested that following trauma, single-session Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), multiple session brief dyadic therapy, and self-led online CBT slightly decreased likelihood of developing PTSD more strongly than no intervention after trauma. However, Bisson et al. noted concerns with bias and validity of these included studies. Hydrocortisone was the only psychotropic drug that was found to be more effective than placebo at preventing PTSD when administered closely following a traumatic event.
Overall, no interventions were shown to be ideal for all groups requiring PTSD prevention, therefore more research must be done to develop appropriate interventions.
Citation:
Bisson, J. I., Wright, L. A., Jones, K. A., Lewis, C., Phelps, A. J., Sijbrandij, M., Varker, T., & Roberts, N. P. (2021). Preventing the onset of post traumatic stress disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102004
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