A comparison of cognitive-processing therapy with prolonged exposure and a waiting condition for the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in female rape victims

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare cognitive-processing therapy (CPT) with prolonged exposure and a minimal attention condition (MA) for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. One hundred seventy-one female rape victims were randomized into 1 of the 3 conditions, and 121 completed treatment. Participants were assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, the PTSD Symptom Scale, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory. Independent assessments were made at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3 and 9 months posttreatment. Analyses indicated that both treatments were highly efficacious and superior to MA. The 2 therapies had similar results except that CPT produced better scores on 2 of 4 guilt subscales.

Figures

Figure 1

Total CAPS scores in the CPT, PE, MA-CPT, and MA-PE conditions: intent-to-treat sample. CAPS = Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale; CPT = cognitive-processing therapy; PE = prolonged exposure; MA = minimal attention; Tx = treatment; Post = posttreatment; MO = month; PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder.

Figure 2

Total CAPS scores in the CPT, PE, MA-CPT, and MA-PE conditions: treatment completers. CAPS = Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale; CPT = cognitive-processing therapy; PE = prolonged exposure; MA = minimal attention; Tx = treatment; Post = posttreatment; MO = month; PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder.