TY - JOUR
T1 - Imagery Rescripting as treatment for complicated PTSD in refugees: a multiple baseline case series study
AU - Arntz, A.
AU - Sofi, Dana
AU - van Breukelen, G.
PY - 2013/1/1
Y1 - 2013/1/1
N2 - This study tested the effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) for complicated war-related PTSD in refugees. Ten adult patients in long-term supportive care with a primary diagnosis of war-related PTSD and Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (PSS) score > 20 participated. A concurrent multiple baseline design was used with baseline varying from 6 to 10weeks, with weekly supportive sessions. After baseline, a 5-week exploration phase followed with weekly sessions during which traumas were explored, without trauma-focused treatment. Then 10 weekly ImRs sessions were given followed by 5-week follow-up without treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to baseline length, and filled out the PSS and the BDI on a weekly basis. Data were analyzed with mixed regression. Results revealed significant linear trends during ImRs (reductions of PSS and BDI scores), but not during the other conditions. The scores during follow-up were stable and significantly lower compared to baseline, with very high effect sizes (Cohen's d = 2.87 (PSS) and 1.29 (BDI)). One patient did clearly not respond positively, and revealed that his actual problem was his sexual identity that he couldn't accept. There were no dropouts. In conclusion, results indicate that ImRs is a highly acceptable and effective treatment for this difficult group of patients.
AB - This study tested the effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) for complicated war-related PTSD in refugees. Ten adult patients in long-term supportive care with a primary diagnosis of war-related PTSD and Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (PSS) score > 20 participated. A concurrent multiple baseline design was used with baseline varying from 6 to 10weeks, with weekly supportive sessions. After baseline, a 5-week exploration phase followed with weekly sessions during which traumas were explored, without trauma-focused treatment. Then 10 weekly ImRs sessions were given followed by 5-week follow-up without treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to baseline length, and filled out the PSS and the BDI on a weekly basis. Data were analyzed with mixed regression. Results revealed significant linear trends during ImRs (reductions of PSS and BDI scores), but not during the other conditions. The scores during follow-up were stable and significantly lower compared to baseline, with very high effect sizes (Cohen's d = 2.87 (PSS) and 1.29 (BDI)). One patient did clearly not respond positively, and revealed that his actual problem was his sexual identity that he couldn't accept. There were no dropouts. In conclusion, results indicate that ImRs is a highly acceptable and effective treatment for this difficult group of patients.
U2 - 10.1016/j.brat.2013.02.009
DO - 10.1016/j.brat.2013.02.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 23524061
SN - 0005-7967
VL - 51
SP - 274
EP - 283
JO - Behaviour Research and Therapy
JF - Behaviour Research and Therapy
IS - 6
ER -