Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Acute Posttrauma Distress: A Randomized, Controlled Proof-of-Concept Study Among...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Trauma and Injury Research
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Burn injuries are a significant cause of trauma, leading to psychological distress.
• Acutely hospitalized burn survivors are at risk for developing acute stress disorder (ASD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and major depressive disorder (MDD).
• Early psychological interventions may be crucial for secondary prevention of these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) for the Safety, Meaning, Activation and Resilience Training (SMART) intervention in hospitalized burn survivors.
• To preliminarily assess the effectiveness of SMART in reducing symptoms of ASD, PTSD, and MDD.

Main Methods:

• A proof-of-concept, parallel-group RCT design was employed.
• Fifty acutely injured, hospitalized adult burn survivors were randomized to either the SMART intervention or nondirective supportive psychotherapy (NDSP).
• The Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to measure symptom severity at baseline, 1 week, and 1 month posttreatment.

Main Results:

• The final sample included 40 participants (SMART n=21, NDSP n=19).
• At baseline, symptom severity scores for DTS and PHQ-9 were above clinical cutoffs in both groups.
• In the SMART group, symptom severity scores fell below clinical cutoffs by 1 month posttreatment, while scores in the NDSP group remained above cutoffs.

Conclusions:

• Conducting an RCT of the SMART intervention in hospitalized adult burn survivors is feasible.
• The SMART intervention demonstrates potential for clinically significant outcomes in reducing psychological distress.
• Further research is warranted to validate these preliminary findings and explore broader applications.