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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Jun;206(6):501-8.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.147926. Epub 2015 Apr 9.

Evaluation of cognitive restructuring for post-traumatic stress disorder in people with severe mental illness

Kim T Mueser  1 , Jennifer D Gottlieb  1 , Haiyi Xie  1 , Weili Lu  1 , Philip T Yanos  1 , Stanley D Rosenberg  1 , Steven M Silverstein  1 , Stephanie Marcello Duva  1 , Shula Minsky  1 , Rosemarie S Wolfe  1 , Gregory J McHugo  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Evaluation of cognitive restructuring for post-traumatic stress disorder in people with severe mental illness

Kim T Mueser et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Background: A cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) programme designed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people with severe mental illness, including breathing retraining, education and cognitive restructuring, was shown to be more effective than usual services.

Aims: To evaluate the incremental benefit of adding cognitive restructuring to the breathing retraining and education components of the CBT programme (trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00494650).

Method: In all, 201 people with severe mental illness and PTSD were randomised to 12- to 16-session CBT or a 3-session brief treatment programme (breathing retraining and education). The primary outcome was PTSD symptom severity. Secondary outcomes were PTSD diagnosis, other symptoms, functioning and quality of life.

Results: There was greater improvement in PTSD symptoms and functioning in the CBT group than in the brief treatment group, with both groups improving on other outcomes and effects maintained 1-year post-treatment.

Conclusions: Cognitive restructuring has a significant impact beyond breathing retraining and education in the CBT programme, reducing PTSD symptoms and improving functioning in people with severe mental illness.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Consort diagram of flow of participants through study. CBT, Cognitive–behavioural therapy; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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