van Emmerik & Kamphuis (2015).

Question 1

What is the Pennebaker writing paradigm, and is it effective in treating PTSD?

Answer 1

Short writing assignments about traumatic event without feedback or advice; not effective

Question 2

What are the three phases in the therapeutic model of writing therapy?

Answer 2

1. Imaginal exposure to traumatic memories (40%)
2. Cognitive restructuring + coping (40%)
3. Social sharing + closure (20%)

Question 3

What does phase 1 entail?

Answer 3

Writing a detailed, first-person, present-tense account of the traumatic event, focusing on sensory experience and most painful facts and feelings

Question 4

What does phase 2 entail?

Answer 4

Writing imagined advice to close friend who has experienced the same trauma on how to deal with it (adaptive coping, interpretation, positive reflections)

Question 5

What does phase 3 entail?

Answer 5

Writing about trauma and its impact to close associate with clearly stated purpose and expected reaction; can be sent!

Question 6

How does writing therapy (through imaginal exposure) lessen PTSD according to Ehlers and Clark’s model?

Answer 6

• Integrate trauma into autobiographical memory
• Facilitate retrieval -> modified appraisals
• Emphasise differences between stimulus configuration during trauma and safe situations -> closer match with present stimulus configuration necessary to be triggered

Question 7

What 5 suggestions do Emmerik & Kamphuis have for writing therapy studies in the future?

Answer 7

1. More studies of children
2. More direct comparison to other PTSD therapies
3. Outside of NL studies
4. Military/ emergency groups
5. Check which phase contributes most to efficacy