Belén Sarasua

Psychological treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of sexual aggression.

The aim of this research was to test the comparative effectiveness of two therapeutic modalities in the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of sexual aggression: (a) self-exposure and cognitive restructuring and (b) progressive relaxation training. The sample consisted of 20 patients (victims of rape in adulthood or adult victims of childhood sexual abuse) selected according to DSM-III-Rcriteria. A multigroup experimental design with repeated measures (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up) was used. Most treated patients improved, but the success rate was higher in all measures in the exposure and cognitive restructuring group immediately on posttreatment and at follow-up. Implications of this study for clinical practice and future research in this field are commented on.

Treatment of acute posttraumatic stress disorder in rape victims: An experimental study☆

Abstract The aim of this study was to test the comparative effectiveness of two therapeutic modalities of 5 one-hr sessions [(a) cognitive restructuring and specific coping-skills training and (b) progressive relaxation training] in the treatment of acute posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of sexual aggression. The sample consisted of 20 patients selected according to DSM-III-R criteria. A two-group experimental design with repeated measures (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up) was used. Most treated patients improved in all measures immediately upon postreatment and in follow-up. There were no differences between the two modalities in the posttreatment. However, in the 12-month follow-up the first group produced superior outcome in PTSD symptoms, but not in other measures. Implications of this study for clinical practice and future research in this field are discussed.

Factores de Vulnerabilidad y de Protección del Impacto Emocional en Mujeres Adultas Víctimas de Agresiones Sexuales

Resumen es: El objetivo de este estudio fue describir las reacciones psicopatologicas de las victimas segun las circunstancias de la agresion sexual, la historia pre...

Escala de Gravedad de Síntomas Revisada (EGS-R) del Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático según el DSM-5: propiedades psicométricas

La Escala de Gravedad de Sintomas Revisada del Trastorno de Estres Postraumatico (TEPT) es una entrevista estructurada que consta de 21 items, basada en los criterios diagnosticos del DSM-5, y sirve para evaluar la gravedad de los sintomas de este cuadro clinico. En este trabajo se describen las propiedades psicometricas de este instrumento. La muestra conto con 526 victimas de agresiones sexuales o de violencia familiar y con una muestra normativa de 193 participantes. El instrumento global mostro una alta consistencia interna (α = .91), asi como una buena validez discriminante (g = 1.27) y convergente (rbp = .78 con el diagnostico). Los resultados del analisis factorial confirmatorio apoyan los cuatro nucleos de sintomas del DSM-5. Un punto de corte de 20, con una eficacia diagnostica del 82.48%, es apropiada para discriminar a las victimas con un TEPT. Esta escala resulta util para planificar el tratamiento y las investigaciones clinicas.

Individual Versus Individual and Group Therapy Regarding a Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Battered Women in a Community Setting:

The current study aimed to test the clinical effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for battered women in a community setting and to find out whether effectiveness of individual therapy can be improved in conjunction with group therapy. One hundred sixteen treatment-seeking battered women were assigned either to CBT on an individual basis or an individual and group basis. Psychological treatment, focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional discomfort, and impaired functioning, comprised a 17-session program, including emotional expression, psychoeducation, trauma re-exposure, coping skills, and problem-solving training. Although most treated patients in both groups improved in all variables (PTSD, emotional discomfort, and impaired functioning) at all assessments, the combined individual and group therapy did better than the individual therapy regarding PTSD symptoms and impaired functioning at follow-up assessments. These findings partially support the beneficial effects of group CBT as adjunctive therapy to individual CBT. Implications of this study for clinical practice and future research in this field are commented on.