Effects of an Internet-based Intervention for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

NCT01508377 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CTTV-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 293
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

For several years now, a very successful treatment of posttraumatic stress disorders has been offered in the Netherlands and in Germany. The contact between clients and therapists takes place exclusively via Internet. The therapists follow a scientifically tested treatment protocol, that defines fixed treatment elements that are adapted to the specific situation of the client. The participants can write at home, in their familiar environment which makes it easier to work on trauma related issues with their therapist. In the last years the treatment was offered in Arabic as well indicating to be an effective treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Arabic-speaking countries. The treatment lasts five weeks. During that time-frame, participants write several texts. The participants decide when they want to write. Each time after having received two texts, the therapists provide feedback and further instructions. The therapists are all trained psychologists, who have received additional training in the interpretation of texts and for the application of the treatment protocol. The investigators hypothesize that both interventions will significantly improve clinical symptoms of PTSD. Furthermore, the investigators expect improvements in secondary outcomes such as anxiety, depression and quality of life.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Keywords

posttraumatic stress disorder; internet-based psychotherapy; cognitive restructuring; exposure

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in posttraumatic stress

  Change in Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale from baseline to post-treatment and 3-months-follow-up

  baseline, post-treatment (1 day after the treatment), 3-months-follow-up (3 months after the treatment)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in anxiety

  baseline, post-treatment (1 day after the treatment), 3-months-follow-up (3 months after the treatment)

• Change in depression

  baseline, post-treatment (1 day after the treatment), 3-months-follow-up (3 months after the treatment)

• Change in quality of life

  baseline, post-treatment (1 day after the treatment), 3-months-follow-up (3 months after the treatment)

Study Arms (2)

Treatment of PTSD with cognitive restructuring

EXPERIMENTAL

In this arm the PTSD treatment can be divided into three phases. First phase: self-confrontation (4 essays) Second phase: cognitive restructuring (4 essays) Third phase: parting (2 essays)

Behavioral: Exposure for PTSD with cognitive restructuring

Treatment of PTSD without cognitive restructuring

EXPERIMENTAL

In this arm the PTSD treatment can be divided into only two phases. Compared to the other arm the phase dealing with cognitive restructuring is excluded. First phase: self-confrontation (4 essays) Second phase: parting (2 essays)

Behavioral: Exposure for PTSD without cognitive restructuring

Interventions

Exposure for PTSD with cognitive restructuring BEHAVIORAL

The treatment lasts five weeks. During that time-frame, participants write ten texts for 45 minutes, twice a week. Each time after having received two texts, the therapists provide feedback and further instructions, which are based upon the manual (Lange et al., 2003) The long version of the PTSD treatment (including cognitive restructuring) can be divided into three phases. First phase - self-confrontation (4 essays) At the beginning the participants receive psychoeducation about the mechanisms of exposure before writing four essays about their emotionally most painful memories. Second phase - cognitive restructuring (4 essays) Again the participants write four texts, however, this time they go beyond mere descriptions and use their experiences to write a supportive letter to an imaginary friend who had been through the same experience. Third phase - parting (2 essays) In the third phase, two texts are written in the form of a letter to document the past in a worthy document.

Treatment of PTSD with cognitive restructuring

Exposure for PTSD without cognitive restructuring BEHAVIORAL

The treatment lasts five weeks. During that time-frame, participants write ten texts for approximately 45 minutes, twice a week. Each time after having received two texts, the therapists provide feedback and further instructions, which are based upon the manual (Lange et al., 2003). The short version of the PTSD treatment can be divided into only two phases. Compared to the long version the phase dealing with cognitive restructuring is excluded. First phase - self-confrontation (4 essays) At the beginning the participants receive psychoeducation about the mechanisms of exposure before writing four essays about their emotionally most painful memories. Third phase - parting (2 essays) In the third phase, two texts are written in the form of a letter to document the past in a worthy document.

Treatment of PTSD without cognitive restructuring

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• traumatic experience
• must suffer from posttraumatic stress
• must be fluent in written Arabic
• must have access to the Internet during the treatment

You may not qualify if:

• suicidal intentions
• substance abuse
• psychotic experience
• dissociation
• currently receiving psychotherapy elsewhere
• pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Berlin Center for the Treatment of Torture Victims: lead

Study Sites (1)

Treatment Center for Torture Victims Berlin/Freie Universität Berlin

Berlin, 10559, Germany

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Bottche M, Wagner B, Vohringer M, Heinrich M, Stein J, Selmo P, Stammel N, Knaevelsrud C. Is only one cognitive technique also effective? Results from a randomized controlled trial of two different versions of an internet-based cognitive behavioural intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder in Arabic-speaking countries. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2021 Jul 15;12(1):1943870. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1943870. eCollection 2021.

  PMID: 34345377 DERIVED

Related Links

• Treatment web-page

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Interventions

Cognitive Restructuring

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Christine Knaevelsrud, PhD

  Freie Universität Berlin

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2011
• First Posted: January 12, 2012
• Study Start: December 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2015
• Study Completion: December 1, 2015
• Last Updated: February 2, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-01

Locations

DE (1)