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Cognitive behavioral treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: Empirical foundation and new directions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2013

Ellen M. Koucky
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Department of Psychology, University of Missouri–St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Benjamin D. Dickstein
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Kathleen M. Chard*
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Kathleen M. Chard, PhD, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, PTSD and Anxiety Disorders Division, 3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA. (Email [email protected])

Abstract

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is currently the most empirically supported intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and includes both specific manualized treatments (e.g., cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure) and less standardized applications. As CBT for PTSD has become increasingly popular, more advanced questions have emerged regarding its use, including how existing treatments might be enhanced. In the current review, we aimed to discover recent trends in the CBT for PTSD literature by applying rigorous search criteria to peer-reviewed articles published from 2009 to 2012. Results of the 14 studies that were identified are discussed, and future directions for research are suggested.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

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