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Augmenting cognitive behaviour therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder with emotion tolerance training: a randomized controlled trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2013

R. A. Bryant ,
J. Mastrodomenico ,
S. Hopwood ,
L. Kenny ,
C. Cahill ,
E. Kandris  and
K. Taylor
R. A. Bryant*
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
J. Mastrodomenico
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
S. Hopwood
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
L. Kenny
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
C. Cahill
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
E. Kandris
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
K. Taylor
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: Professor R. A. Bryant, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, NSW, 2052, Australia. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Many patients do not adhere to or benefit from cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This randomized controlled trial evaluates the extent to which preparing patients with emotion regulation skills prior to CBT enhances treatment outcome.

Method

A total of 70 adult civilian patients with PTSD were randomized to 12 sessions of either supportive counselling followed by CBT (Support/CBT) or emotion regulation training followed by CBT (Skills/CBT).

Results

Skills/CBT resulted in fewer treatment drop-outs, less PTSD and anxiety, and fewer negative appraisals at 6 months follow-up than Support/CBT. Between-condition effect size was moderate for PTSD severity (0.43, 95% confidence interval −0.04 to 0.90). More Skills/CBT (31%) patients achieved high end-state functioning at follow-up than patients in Support/CBT (12%) [χ2(n = 70) = 3.67, p < 0.05].

Conclusions

This evidence suggests that response to CBT may be enhanced in PTSD patients by preparing them with emotion regulation skills. High attrition of participants during the study limits conclusions from this study.

Keywords

Cognitive behaviour therapyemotion regulationpost-traumatic stress disorder
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 43 , Issue 10 , October 2013 , pp. 2153 - 2160
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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