Chinese My Trauma Recovery, a Web-based intervention for traumatized persons in two parallel samples: randomized...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Digital Health
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Guided self-help interventions are crucial for disseminating psychological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• The My Trauma Recovery (CMTR) website offers a digital platform for PTSD self-help.
• Evaluating CMTR's efficacy in Chinese populations is essential for expanding accessible mental healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of the Chinese version of the My Trauma Recovery (CMTR) website.
• To assess CMTR's impact on post-traumatic symptoms and related psychological outcomes.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based self-help intervention for trauma survivors in China.

Main Methods:

• Two parallel randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted in urban and rural Chinese settings.
• Participants (N=183) were trauma survivors recruited via online advertisements and in-person methods.
• The primary outcome was measured using the Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), with secondary measures including depression and coping scales.

Main Results:

• CMTR significantly reduced post-traumatic symptom severity in both urban and rural samples, with high effect sizes.
• Symptom reduction was sustained at a 3-month follow-up in both study groups.
• Positive effects were observed on secondary outcomes, including cognitive changes and depression, particularly in the urban sample.

Conclusions:

• The CMTR website demonstrates short-term efficacy in treating PTSD symptoms among Chinese populations.
• Web-based self-help programs are viable tools for delivering mental health support to individuals affected by trauma.
• Findings support the broader application of digital mental health interventions in diverse cultural contexts.