Prolonged exposure therapy

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE) is a form of behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy designed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder.

About Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is a theoretically-based and highly efficacious treatment for chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related depression, anxiety, and anger. Based on basic cognitive-behavioral principles, it is empirically validated, with more than 20 years of research supporting its use. Prolonged exposure is a flexible therapy that can be modified to fit the needs of individual clients. It is specifically designed to help clients psychologically process traumatic events and reduce trauma-induced psychological disturbances. Prolonged exposure produces clinically significant improvement in about 80% of patients with chronic PTSD.Fact|date=February 2008

Prolonged exposure therapy was developed by Edna B Foa, Ph.D., Director of the [http://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa/ Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety] . Practitioners throughout the United States and many foreign countries currently use prolonged exposure to successfully treat survivors of varied traumas including rape, assault, child abuse, combat, motor vehicle accidents and disasters. Prolonged exposure has been beneficial for those suffering from co-occurring PTSD and substance abuse when combined with substance abuse treatment.Fact|date=February 2008

Over years of testing and development, prolonged exposure has evolved into an adaptable program of intervention to address the needs of varied trauma survivors. In addition to reducing symptoms of PTSD, prolonged exposure instills confidence and a sense of mastery, improves various aspects of daily functioning, increases client's ability to cope with courage rather than fearfulness when facing stress, and improves their ability to discriminate safe and unsafe situations [Eftekhari, A., Stines, L.R. and Zoellner, L.A. (2005). Do You Need To Talk About It? Prolonged Exposure for the Treatment of Chronic PTSD. "The Behavior Analyst Today, 7.(1)," 70-83 [http://www.behavior-analyst-online.org] ] .

In 2001, Prolonged Exposure for PTSD received an Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Program Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Prolonged exposure was selected by SAMHSA and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention as a Model Program for national dissemination.

Source: [http://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa/about_therapy.shtml Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety: About Prolonged Exposure Therapy]

Components

PE treatment commonly has two components. The first is imaginal exposure which typically occurs during the therapy session and consists of reliving the trauma. The second is "in vivo" exposure in which the clinician works with the client to establish a fear and avoidance hierarchy and typically assigns exposures to these list items as homework progressively. Both components are designed to elicit emotional processing so that the problematic traumatic memories and avoidances habituate (desensitize). [Kazi, A., Freund, B., & Ironson, G. (2008). Prolonged Exposure Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder following the 9/11 attack with a person who escaped from the Twin Towers. Clinical Case Studies, 7, 100-116.]

ee also

* Posttraumatic stress disorder
* Exposure therapy
* Behavior Therapy
* Cognitive behavioral therapy
* Edna B Foa
* Barbara Rothbaum

References

Research Information

* [http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/0195308506/?view=usa Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Emotional Processing of Traumatic Experiences, Therapist Guide] by Edna B. Foa, Elizabeth A. Hembree, Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, March 2007, Oxford University Press, "Treatments that work".
* [http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/0195308484/?view=usa Reclaiming Your Life From a Traumatic Experience, Workbook] , Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, Edna B. Foa, Elizabeth A. Hembree, March 2007, Oxford University Press, "Treatments that work".
* [http://modelprograms.samhsa.gov/pdfs/model/PE-PTSD.pdf Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorders] SAMHSA Model Programs.
* [http://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania] Edna B. Foa, Ph.D., Director.
* [http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search?term=prolonged+exposure+ptsd&submit=Search Current clinical trials of prolonged exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder] ClinicalTrials.gov
* [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1077-7229(03)80005-6 Beyond the manual: The insider's guide to Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD] EA Hembree, SAM Rauch and EB Foa. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice (2003) 10:22-30.
* [http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/297/8/820 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial] , Paula P. Schnurr, Matthew J. Friedman, Charles C. Engel, Edna B. Foa, et al, Journal of the American Medical Association, February 28, 2007; 297: 820 - 830.
* [http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3793/39330/47389.aspx Treatment of PTSD: An Assessment of The Evidence] , Institute of Medicine, October 17, 2007.

External links

* [http://www.epigee.org/PTSD-CBT.html Exposure therapy for PTSD at Epigee Women's Health]