From the Guidelines
Remission from PTSD without completing a full course of therapy can occur through brief cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions, such as brief (4-5 sessions) CBT beginning approximately 2 weeks after the trauma, which has been shown to speed the rate of recovery in patients with PTSD. This approach, which may include elements of prolonged exposure and stress inoculation training, has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms and preventing the development of chronic PTSD, as seen in studies by Foa et al (1995) and Bryant et al (1998,1999, 2003a) 1. Some key points to consider in achieving remission without full course therapy include:
- Brief CBT has been shown to be effective in speeding the rate of recovery in women victims of sexual and nonsexual assault who meet symptom criteria for PTSD, with only one of 10 women receiving CBT meeting criteria for PTSD at 2 months after the assault, compared to 70% of those in the assessment control group 1.
- The combination of prolonged exposure plus elements of stress inoculation training has been found to be efficacious in reducing symptoms and preventing the development of chronic PTSD, with between 8 and 20% of participants receiving CBT meeting criteria for PTSD at end of treatment and between 17 and 23% at 6-month follow-up 1.
- Exposure therapy alone has also been found to be effective, with no apparent benefit of a combined treatment program compared to exposure therapy alone, as seen in the study by Bryant et al (1999) 1. It's essential to note that while brief CBT interventions can be effective, patients may still benefit from completing a full course of evidence-based treatment to achieve more stable, long-term recovery.
From the Research
Achieving Remission from PTSD without Full Course Therapy
- Patients with PTSD may achieve remission without completing a full course of therapy, although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood 2, 3.
- Some studies suggest that certain medications, such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine, may be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD, even if the full course of therapy is not completed 2, 4.
- Trauma-focused psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may also be effective in achieving remission from PTSD, even if the full course of therapy is not completed 5, 6.
- The effectiveness of these treatments may depend on various factors, such as the severity of symptoms, the presence of comorbid disorders, and the individual's response to treatment 4, 6.
Factors Influencing Remission
- The severity of symptoms, including depression and anxiety, may influence the likelihood of achieving remission from PTSD 4.
- The presence of comorbid disorders, such as depression or anxiety disorders, may also impact the effectiveness of treatment and the likelihood of achieving remission 4, 6.
- The type of trauma experienced, such as childhood sexual trauma or sexual assault, may also influence the response to treatment and the likelihood of achieving remission 4.
Treatment Options
- Medications, such as SSRIs or SNRIs, may be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD and achieving remission, even if the full course of therapy is not completed 2, 4.
- Trauma-focused psychotherapies, such as CBT, may also be effective in achieving remission from PTSD, even if the full course of therapy is not completed 5, 6.
- Novel therapeutic approaches, such as psychedelics or neuroactive steroids, may also show promise in achieving remission from PTSD, although more research is needed to fully understand their effectiveness 3.