Prolonged exposure therapy

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy designed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder.

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About Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be a complex and challenging disorder for clinicians to treat. With a lifetime prevalence of 8% in the population, and in the aftermath of recent terrorist events in the US, it is likely that clinicians will continue to see a sizable number of clients with PTSD and other trauma-related pathology. Therefore it is critical that clinicians have empirically-supported treatments available to help those suffering with symptoms of PTSD.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is a theoretically-based and highly efficacious treatment for chronic PTSD and related depression, anxiety, and anger. Based on basic cognitive-behavioral principles, it is empirically validated, with more than 20 years of research supporting its use. Prolonged exposure is a flexible therapy that can be modified to fit the needs of individual clients. It is specifically designed to help clients psychologically process traumatic events and reduce trauma-induced psychological disturbances. Prolonged exposure produces clinically significant improvement in about 80% of patients with chronic PTSD.

Prolonged exposure therapy was developed by Edna B Foa, Ph.D., Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Practitioners throughout the United States and many foreign countries currently use prolonged exposure to successfully treat survivors of varied traumas including rape, assault, child abuse, combat, motor vehicle accidents and disasters. Prolonged exposure has been beneficial for those suffering from co-occurring PTSD and substance abuse when combined with substance abuse treatment.

Over years of testing and development, prolonged exposure has evolved into an adaptable program of intervention to address the needs of varied trauma survivors. In addition to reducing symptoms of PTSD, prolonged exposure instills confidence and a sense of mastery, improves various aspects of daily functioning, increases client's ability to cope with courage rather than fearfulness when facing stress, and improves their ability to discriminate safe and unsafe situations.

In 2001, Prolonged Exposure for PTSD received an Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Program Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Prolonged exposure was selected by SAMHSA and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention as a Model Program for national dissemination.

Source: Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety: About Prolonged Exposure Therapy

See also

• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Exposure therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Edna B Foa
• Barbara Rothbaum

Research Information

• Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Emotional Processing of Traumatic Experiences, Therapist Guide by Edna B. Foa, Elizabeth A. Hembree, Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, March 2007, Oxford University Press, "Treatments that work".

• Reclaiming Your Life From a Traumatic Experience, Workbook, Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, Edna B. Foa, Elizabeth A. Hembree, March 2007, Oxford University Press, "Treatments that work".

• Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorders SAMHSA Model Programs.

• Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania Edna B. Foa, Ph.D., Director.

• Current clinical trials of prolonged exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder ClinicalTrials.gov

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Paula P. Schnurr, Matthew J. Friedman, Charles C. Engel, Edna B. Foa, et al, Journal of the American Medical Association, February 28, 2007; 297: 820 - 830.

• Treatment of PTSD: An Assessment of The Evidence, Institute of Medicine, October 17, 2007.

Links

• Exposure therapy for PTSD at Epigee Women's Health