Dialectical Cognitive Traumatherapy (DCT) on Patients With Severe PTSD Following Sexual Abuse

Dialectical Cognitive Traumatherapy (DCT) on Patients With Severe Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Sexual Abuse - A Randomised Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Dialectical Cognitive Traumatherapy is effective in the treatment of severe and chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following childhood sexual abuse.

Most studies on psychological treatments for PTSD exclude patients with severe, co-occurring psychopathology. We designed a new treatment (Dialectical Cognitive Trauma Therapy, or DCT) specifically to treat these patients. DCT includes elements of emotion regulation, mindfulness exercises, cognitive and exposure treatment, as well as new elements. This randomized controlled study evaluates the effect of inpatient DCT on these patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• Minimum age of 17
• Childhood sexual abuse
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (criteria of SCID)
• At least one of the following diagnoses: Anorexia Nervosa, or Bulimia Nervosa, or substance abuse, or substance dependence, or major depression or at least 4 out of 9 criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of schizophrenia
• Mental retardation
• Body Mass Index lower than 16.5
• Acute delirium
• Perilous selfharming behaviour during the last 4 month
• Suicide attempt with the distinct intention to die during the last 4 month
• Unstability (e.g. homelessness, acute victimisation by offender)
• Pretreatment by DCT