Bridging the science-practice gap in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Testing strategies to enhance beliefs toward exposure therapy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nExposure therapies (e.g., prolonged exposure [PE]), are first-line interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder but remain underutilized, partially due to providers negative beliefs about these interventions. We examined two experimental strategies aimed at enhancing beliefs towards PE and subsequent utilization.\n\n\nMETHOD\nClinicians (N\u2009=\u2009155) were randomized to one of three conditions presenting a PE rationale: basic, empirically-based, or emotionally-based description. Participants were rerandomized to write or not write arguments for utilizing PE. Before and after PE rationales and 1-month later, participants completed questions about PE beliefs and utilization.\n\n\nRESULTS\nParticipants reported small yet durable belief change across all rationale conditions, with greatest change following the empirically-based description. Across conditions, belief change was not impacted by writing condition or associated with utilization.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nAddressing negative beliefs with empirical information may be a brief, cost-effective strategy to improve clinicians beliefs toward PE. Complementary strategies that leverage belief modification to increase utilization are needed.