What is the rationale for prolonged exposure for PTSD?

What is the rationale for prolonged exposure for PTSD?

Prolonged Exposure (PE) teaches you to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations that you have been avoiding since your trauma. By confronting these challenges, you can decrease your PTSD symptoms.

Do you need to talk about it prolonged exposure for the treatment of chronic PTSD?

The simple answer is “No, you don't need to talk about it.” Not everyone who undergoes a potentially traumatic event will go on to develop chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD, Kesler et al., 2005).

What is one benefit of prolonged exposure treatment for PTSD?

Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD. The therapy allows you to work through painful memories in a safe and supportive environment. It also allows you to participate in activities you have been avoiding because of the trauma.

What is prolonged exposure therapy and how can it be used to help PTSD victims?

Prolonged exposure is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that teaches individuals to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings and situations. Most people want to avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma they experienced, but doing so reinforces their fear.

What theory is prolonged exposure based on?

PE is based in Emotional Processing Theory, which posits that PTSD symptoms arise as a result of cognitive and behavioral avoidance of trauma-related thoughts, reminders, activities and situations.

Who benefits from prolonged exposure therapy?

PE therapy is effective in helping people overcome PTSD generally. It also helps in reducing related suicidal thinking, excessive guilt, anxiety, and depression. Studies have generally found that PE therapy produces symptom improvement in 80% to 90% of people who do it.

When is prolonged exposure therapy not recommended?

The PE manual (Foa et al., 2007) specifies several clinically determined contraindications for treatment: imminent threat of suicidal or homicidal behavior, recent (past 3 months) serious self-injurious behavior, and current psychosis.

Why was prolonged exposure therapy developed?

PE was developed by Edna Foa, PhD, Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Numerous well-controlled studies have shown that PE significantly reduces the symptoms of PTSD, depression, anger, and anxiety in trauma survivors.

Is Prolonged Exposure Therapy Effective?

Prolonged exposure therapy is highly effective. This conclusion stems from many scientific research studies conducted over the past three to four decades. PE therapy is effective in helping people overcome PTSD generally. It also helps in reducing related suicidal thinking, excessive guilt, anxiety, and depression.

Is Prolonged exposure therapy evidence based?

Prolonged exposure is a specific exposure therapy program that is considered a first-line evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Unfortunately, barriers to treatment dissemination prevent the majority of individuals with PTSD from receiving evidence-based treatment.