Abstract
Objective To develop a clinician-guided, research-based guideline for adult outpatient psychotherapy for complex presentations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Methods We used state-of-the-art methods to develop clinical guideline recommendations and conduct systematic reviews with meta-analyses for five research questions: (Q1) When treating adults with PTSD, should trauma-focused psychotherapy include exposure? Which psychotherapies are effective for PTSD with co-occurring: (Q2) personality disorder; (Q3) depression; and (Q4) dissociative disorder? (Q5) for complex PTSD (C-PTSD)?
Results (Q1) We found no evidence of a difference between trauma-focused psychotherapies with or without exposure on PTSD symptoms (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.02, 95% CI −0.11 to 0.15, p=0.75, I2=64%). (Q2) Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT-for-PTSD) showed beneficial effects over cognitive processing therapy (CPT) on co-occurring borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms (mean difference (MD) −0.58, 95% CI −0.94 to −0.22, p=0.003). (Q3) Mindfulness and body-focused psychotherapies, prolonged exposure (PE), narrative exposure therapy (NET) and CPT showed beneficial effects on symptoms of PTSD and co-occurring depression. Results for present-centred therapy (PCT) were uncertain. (Q4) No statistically significant differences were found among psychotherapies for PTSD with co-occurring dissociation. (Q5) Skills training appeared promising for C-PTSD.
Conclusion Weak clinical recommendations were reached for trauma-focused therapies with or without exposure for PTSD; DBT-for-PTSD for PTSD with co-occurring BPD; CPT, NET, PE and Mindfulness and body-focused psychotherapies for PTSD with co-occurring depression; and Skills training for C-PTSD. A weak recommendation was reached against PCT for PTSD with co-occurring depression. It is good practice to include interventions targeting dissociation for PTSD with co-occurring dissociation. Overall, the certainty of evidence was low; high-quality trials are needed to strengthen the recommendations.
PROSPERO registration number CRD42022376117.
Methods We used state-of-the-art methods to develop clinical guideline recommendations and conduct systematic reviews with meta-analyses for five research questions: (Q1) When treating adults with PTSD, should trauma-focused psychotherapy include exposure? Which psychotherapies are effective for PTSD with co-occurring: (Q2) personality disorder; (Q3) depression; and (Q4) dissociative disorder? (Q5) for complex PTSD (C-PTSD)?
Results (Q1) We found no evidence of a difference between trauma-focused psychotherapies with or without exposure on PTSD symptoms (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.02, 95% CI −0.11 to 0.15, p=0.75, I2=64%). (Q2) Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT-for-PTSD) showed beneficial effects over cognitive processing therapy (CPT) on co-occurring borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms (mean difference (MD) −0.58, 95% CI −0.94 to −0.22, p=0.003). (Q3) Mindfulness and body-focused psychotherapies, prolonged exposure (PE), narrative exposure therapy (NET) and CPT showed beneficial effects on symptoms of PTSD and co-occurring depression. Results for present-centred therapy (PCT) were uncertain. (Q4) No statistically significant differences were found among psychotherapies for PTSD with co-occurring dissociation. (Q5) Skills training appeared promising for C-PTSD.
Conclusion Weak clinical recommendations were reached for trauma-focused therapies with or without exposure for PTSD; DBT-for-PTSD for PTSD with co-occurring BPD; CPT, NET, PE and Mindfulness and body-focused psychotherapies for PTSD with co-occurring depression; and Skills training for C-PTSD. A weak recommendation was reached against PCT for PTSD with co-occurring depression. It is good practice to include interventions targeting dissociation for PTSD with co-occurring dissociation. Overall, the certainty of evidence was low; high-quality trials are needed to strengthen the recommendations.
PROSPERO registration number CRD42022376117.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Artikelnummer | e301158 |
| Tidsskrift | BMJ mental health |
| Vol/bind | 28 |
| Udgave nummer | 1 |
| Antal sider | 9 |
| ISSN | 2755-9734 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2025 |
Bibliografisk note
Publisher Copyright:© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025.