Article 4c: Long-term effects of dialectical behaviour therapy for post traumatic stress disorder and cognitive processing therapy (Vonderlin et al., 2024)

Question 1

Design of the study

Answer 1

In this long-term analysis patients with CA-related PTSD randomly received 1 of the 2 therapies:
1. DBT: dialectical behaviour therapy
2. CPT: cognitive processing therapy
At the baseline and after a 9-month follow-up they measures:
- Self-reported PTSD severity
- Dissociation
- Severity of borderline symptoms
- Psychological functioning

Question 2

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Answer 2

A treatment developed to address the needs of individuals with CA-related PTSD. It focusses on the balance between self-validation/ self-acceptation and the challenges to change some aspects of the behaviour.

Question 3

Results (DBT vs CPT)

Answer 3

• Both treatments showed sustained treatment effects after 9 months.
• The majority of participants showed stable symptoms after the treatment.
• This can be due to learning of coping mechanisms, better emotion regulation and reduction in avoidance behaviours.
• There is a superiority of DBT over CPT (specifically in addressing bordeline-specific symptoms and improving psychosocial functioning).

Question 4

Conslusion

Answer 4

Both treatment showed enduring effects for CA-PTSD related symptoms, but CBT was more effective in addressing borderline-specific symptoms and improving psychosocial functioning. This may be because DBT incorporates exposure techniques combined with positive psychology, helping participants build a life worth living. It also includes a preparation phase for real life and integration of these skills into daily life, fostering long-term improvement.