Imagery Rescripting in the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Following Early Chronic Interpersonal Trauma

Rescripting With vs. Without Prior Stabilization in PTSD Following Early Chronic Interpersonal Trauma

Imagery Rescripting (IR)is a promising treatment for PTSD in adult survivors of early, chronic, interpersonal trauma (e.g. Smucker & Dancu, 1999). So far, this protocol has not been investigated within a controlled setting with patients with PTSD following early, chronic, interpersonal trauma. The aim of the proposed study is to 1. investigate the efficacy of Imagery Rescripting and 2. check whether the efficacy of Imagery Rescripting can be improved by adding a stabilization phase (Skills training in affective and interpersonal regulation, STAIR) prior to this treatment. In a randomized controlled trial three conditions will be compared:

1. Imagery Rescripting
2. STAIR + Imagery Rescripting
3. Wait-list control

Inclusion Criteria:

• a full diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to DSM-IV
• having experienced repeated or chronic interpersonal trauma by care-takers or authority figures before the age of 15
• between the age of 18 and 65 years
• sufficient fluency of Dutch to complete treatment and research-protocol
• participants using prescribed anti-depressant medication are required to be on a stable dose for at least 6 weeks before the beginning of treatment and remain on this dose throughout the treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• psychosis
• bipolar disorder
• significant cognitive impairment
• substance dependence
• current use of benzodiazepines
• severe suicidal ideation or life-threatening automutilation
• current trauma or threat
• unstable living circumstances
• antisocial personality disorder
• primary diagnosis of borderline personality disorder