How is trauma-focused therapy experienced by adults with PTSD? A systematic review of qualitative studies
(2024) In BMC psychology 12(1).- Abstract
Background: Trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) are first-line treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, TFTs are under-utilised, partly due to clinicians’ and patients' fear that TFT is too challenging or harmful. We review the qualitative studies on how adults with PTSD experience TFTs to enhance the understanding of user perspectives, therapeutic processes, and outcomes. Methods: PubMed, PsychINFO and PTSDPubs were searched between October 1st and November 30th, 2021. Study quality assessments were undertaken, and studies were analysed using a descriptive-interpretative approach. Nine studies were included. Results: The analysis resulted in the identification of four key domains, representing a temporal sequence of... (More)
Background: Trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) are first-line treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, TFTs are under-utilised, partly due to clinicians’ and patients' fear that TFT is too challenging or harmful. We review the qualitative studies on how adults with PTSD experience TFTs to enhance the understanding of user perspectives, therapeutic processes, and outcomes. Methods: PubMed, PsychINFO and PTSDPubs were searched between October 1st and November 30th, 2021. Study quality assessments were undertaken, and studies were analysed using a descriptive-interpretative approach. Nine studies were included. Results: The analysis resulted in the identification of four key domains, representing a temporal sequence of TFT stages: Overcoming ambivalence towards TFT, Experience of treatment elements, Motivation for dropout/retention, and Perceived changes post-treatment. Conclusion: Although many participants reported high levels of distress and considered dropping out, only a minority did eventually drop out and most patients expressed that the hardships in therapy were necessary for PTSD improvement. Establishing a safe therapeutic environment and working with the ambivalence towards treatment was essential for retention. This review serves a dual purpose, to shed light on diverse TFT experiences found to be important for treatment satisfaction, and to elucidate common treatment patterns. The results can be used in preparing patients for therapy and in training TFT therapists. Studies had moderate to high quality, and more studies of experiences of TFT non-responders and dropouts in a non-veteran population are needed to further our understanding of the utility and limitations of TFTs.
(Less)
- author
- Gjerstad, Solveig Flem ; Nordin, Linda LU ; Poulsen, Stig ; Spadaro, Erminio Francesco Antares and Palic, Sabina
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Patient experience, Qualitative research, Systematic review, Trauma-focused therapy
- in
- BMC psychology
- volume
- 12
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 135
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:38459602
- scopus:85187195142
- ISSN
- 2050-7283
- DOI
- 10.1186/s40359-024-01588-x
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 26aad7a1-ce0c-4da1-849b-f5e209700d0e
- date added to LUP
- 2024-03-27 14:43:23
- date last changed
- 2024-04-24 18:44:43
@article{26aad7a1-ce0c-4da1-849b-f5e209700d0e,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) are first-line treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, TFTs are under-utilised, partly due to clinicians’ and patients' fear that TFT is too challenging or harmful. We review the qualitative studies on how adults with PTSD experience TFTs to enhance the understanding of user perspectives, therapeutic processes, and outcomes. Methods: PubMed, PsychINFO and PTSDPubs were searched between October 1st and November 30th, 2021. Study quality assessments were undertaken, and studies were analysed using a descriptive-interpretative approach. Nine studies were included. Results: The analysis resulted in the identification of four key domains, representing a temporal sequence of TFT stages: Overcoming ambivalence towards TFT, Experience of treatment elements, Motivation for dropout/retention, and Perceived changes post-treatment. Conclusion: Although many participants reported high levels of distress and considered dropping out, only a minority did eventually drop out and most patients expressed that the hardships in therapy were necessary for PTSD improvement. Establishing a safe therapeutic environment and working with the ambivalence towards treatment was essential for retention. This review serves a dual purpose, to shed light on diverse TFT experiences found to be important for treatment satisfaction, and to elucidate common treatment patterns. The results can be used in preparing patients for therapy and in training TFT therapists. Studies had moderate to high quality, and more studies of experiences of TFT non-responders and dropouts in a non-veteran population are needed to further our understanding of the utility and limitations of TFTs.</p>}},
author = {{Gjerstad, Solveig Flem and Nordin, Linda and Poulsen, Stig and Spadaro, Erminio Francesco Antares and Palic, Sabina}},
issn = {{2050-7283}},
keywords = {{Patient experience; Qualitative research; Systematic review; Trauma-focused therapy}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC psychology}},
title = {{How is trauma-focused therapy experienced by adults with PTSD? A systematic review of qualitative studies}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01588-x}},
doi = {{10.1186/s40359-024-01588-x}},
volume = {{12}},
year = {{2024}},
}