Identifying predictors of long-term treatment outcomes using narratives from written exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy for PTSD.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a 12-session, gold-standard treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and written exposure therapy (WET), a brief, five-session treatment, have similar treatment efficacy. The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of long-term treatment outcomes of WET and CPT using clients' written narratives.

Method

Narratives from both treatments were coded with the Change and Growth Experiences Scale coding system to identify predictors of long-term PTSD symptom outcomes. Participants were 113 adults with PTSD randomly assigned to receive WET (n = 60) or CPT (n = 53).

Results

In WET, higher average levels of accommodated (balanced, healthy) beliefs predicted lower PTSD symptoms at the 60-week endpo

SUBMITTER: Shayani DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12159258 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature