N. Tarrier et al., Cognitive therapy or imaginal exposure in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder - Twelve-month follow-up, BR J PSYCHI, 175, 1999, pp. 571-575
Background Previously reported results have demonstrated the efficacy of ex
posure and cognitive therapy in the treatment of chronic post-traumatic str
ess disorder (PTSD), but have not shown one to be superior to the other.
Aims To investigate whether treatment benefits and equivalence are maintain
ed at 12-month follow-up in patients with chronic PTSD treated with either
imaginal exposure or cognitive therapy.
Method Twelve-month follow-up of a randomised clinical trial.
Results Fifty-four subjects (87% of the sample) were available to follow-up
. They did not significantly differ clinically from drop-outs. There was si
gnificant clinical improvement at 12 months compared with pre-treatment. Ho
wever, 39% of those followed-up still met criteria for PTSD. There were no
significant differences between the two treatments. Victims of crime displa
yed higher levels of symptoms at follow-up than victims of accidents.
Conclusions Clinical benefits for exposure or cognitive therapy were mainta
ined.