Journal Article

Prolonged exposure and EMDR for PTSD v. a PTSD waiting-list condition: effects on symptoms of psychosis, depression and social functioning in patients with chronic psychotic disorders

van den Berg, D. P. G., van der Vleugel, B. M., van der Gaag, M., de Bont, P. A. J. M., de Jongh, A., de Roos, C., van Minnen, A. M.

2016

Overview

In patients with psychotic disorders, the effects of psychological post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment on symptoms of psychosis, depression and social functioning are largely unknown In a single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) 155 outpatients in treatment for psychosis (61.3% schizophrenic disorder, 29% schizoaffective disorder) were randomized to eight sessions prolonged exposure (PE; n = 53) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) (n = 55), or a waiting-list condition (WL, n = 47) for treatment of their co-morbid PTSD. Measures were performed on (1) psychosis: severity of delusions (PSYRATS-DRS), paranoid thoughts (GPTS), auditory verbal hallucinations (PSYRATS-AHRS), and remission from psychotic disorder (SCI-SR-PANSS); (2) depression (BDI-II); (3) social functioning (PSP). Outcomes were compared at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month follow-up and over all data points. Both PE and EMDR were significantly associated with less severe paranoid thoughts post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up, and with more patients remitting from schizophrenia, at post-treatment (PE and EMDR) and over time (PE). Moreover, PE was significantly associated with a greater reduction of depression at post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up. Auditory verbal hallucinations and social functioning remained unchanged. In patients with chronic psychotic disorders PE and EMDR not only reduced PTSD symptoms, but also paranoid thoughts. Importantly, in PE and EMDR more patients accomplished the status of their psychotic disorder in remission. Clinically, these effects are highly relevant and provide empirical support to the notion that delivering PTSD treatment to patients with psychotic disorders and PTSD deserves increasing recognition and acceptance among clinicians.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Adult / Comorbidity / Delusions / Depression / Depression - epidemiology / Depression - therapy / Disorders / Eye movement desensitization / Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing - methods / Eye movements / Female / Hallucinations / Humans / Implosive Therapy - methods / Male / Medical treatment / Mental depression / Mental disorders / Mental health care / Middle Aged / Original Articles / Outcome Assessment (Health Care) / Outpatients / Paranoia / Patients / Post traumatic stress disorder / Psychological distress / Psychosis / Psychotic Disorders - epidemiology / Psychotic Disorders - therapy / Remission / Remission (Medicine) / Schizoaffective disorder / Schizophrenia / Schizophrenia - epidemiology / Schizophrenia - therapy / Single-Blind Method / Social functioning / Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology / Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy / Symptoms / Trauma / Traumatic stress / Verbal hallucinations / Waiting Lists