Open Trial of a Brief Imagery-Based Stabilization Psychotherapy for Adults with Acute Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Published in: Yonsei medical journal Vol. 65; no. 10; pp. 588 - 595
• Main Authors: Son, Boyoung, Kim, Daeho, Lee, Hyunji, Min, Ji Young, Hong, Jiyoung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Yonsei University College of Medicine 01.10.2024; 연세대학교의과대학
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Humans; Imagery, Psychotherapy - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Quality of Life; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; 의학일반; Posttraumatic stress disorder; psychological trauma; psychotherapy; stabilization
• ISSN: 0513-5796; 1976-2437; 1976-2437
• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2023.0520

Early intervention after trauma is needed for reduction in clinical distress and prevention of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study describes findings from an open pilot trial of a brief stabilization psychotherapy based on imagery techniques for adults with acute PTSD (i.e., within 3 months of onset). Four sessions of 60-minute individual psychotherapy were conducted on 18 participants with PTSD within 3 months after accidents, 15 of whom completed the treatment. The clinician-administered PTSD scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales, and self-questionnaires were administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up. Eight (53.3%) of the 15 patients at post-treatment and 8 of the 9 patients at 6-month follow-up did not meet the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. Reliable change of PTSD symptoms after treatment was observed in 6 of 15 (45.0%) patients at post-treatment and in 4 of 9 (45.0%) patients after 6 months. There was a significant decrease in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life scores after treatment, and these gains were maintained after 6 months. No cases of exacerbated PTSD symptoms were observed among completers and non-completers. Our findings suggest that brief stabilization sessions are safe treatment options for acute PTSD (KCT0001918).