Symptom retention after successful intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
Background: Evidence suggests that individuals undergoing successful treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to experience PTSD symptoms.Objective: To determine the extent to which people continue to suffer from PTSD symptoms after intensive trauma-focused treatment and at six-m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2537546 |
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| author | Frédérique A. M. Wesseling Eline M. Voorendonk Linda Rozendaal Ad de Jongh |
| author_facet | Frédérique A. M. Wesseling Eline M. Voorendonk Linda Rozendaal Ad de Jongh |
| author_sort | Frédérique A. M. Wesseling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Evidence suggests that individuals undergoing successful treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to experience PTSD symptoms.Objective: To determine the extent to which people continue to suffer from PTSD symptoms after intensive trauma-focused treatment and at six-month follow-up, despite no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD.Method: In total, 1015 individuals with PTSD participated in an eight-day intensive trauma-focused treatment programme combining psychoeducation, physical activity, prolonged exposure, and EMDR therapy. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) at baseline, post-treatment, and at six-months follow-up. Residual symptoms among those who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria were identified. Logistic regression analyses explored baseline predictors of the most persistent symptoms.Results: CAPS-5 total scores showed a significant reduction from pre- to post-treatment (d = 1.99) and remained improved at six-month follow-up (d = 1.48), despite a small to moderate increase in symptoms between post-treatment and follow-up (d = −0.38). Among those no longer meeting PTSD criteria post-treatment (75.8%) or at follow-up (63.2%), a substantial proportion (56.1% and 44.7% respectively) reported residual symptoms. The most frequently reported residual symptoms at six-months follow-up were negative beliefs (32.2%), negative feelings (28.7%), and intrusive memories (26.9%). The most persistent symptoms, based on odds ratios, were avoidance of thoughts or feelings (C1, OR = 38.38), intrusive memories (B1, OR = 25.00), and negative feelings (D4, OR = 22.12). Predictors of these residual symptoms included number of traumatic events, sexual trauma, suicidality, country of birth and receiving governmental income support.Conclusions: The results support growing awareness that, after seemingly successful trauma-focused treatment, a notable proportion of patients continue to suffer from specific PTSD symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring and tailored interventions targeting residual symptoms following treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01ffadaf692845acaf7ebe62839e4185 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-01ffadaf692845acaf7ebe62839e41852025-08-20T04:02:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662025-12-0116110.1080/20008066.2025.2537546Symptom retention after successful intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorderFrédérique A. M. Wesseling0Eline M. Voorendonk1Linda Rozendaal2Ad de Jongh3Research Department, PSYTREC, Zeist, The NetherlandsResearch Department, PSYTREC, Zeist, The NetherlandsResearch Department, PSYTREC, Zeist, The NetherlandsResearch Department, PSYTREC, Zeist, The NetherlandsBackground: Evidence suggests that individuals undergoing successful treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to experience PTSD symptoms.Objective: To determine the extent to which people continue to suffer from PTSD symptoms after intensive trauma-focused treatment and at six-month follow-up, despite no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD.Method: In total, 1015 individuals with PTSD participated in an eight-day intensive trauma-focused treatment programme combining psychoeducation, physical activity, prolonged exposure, and EMDR therapy. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) at baseline, post-treatment, and at six-months follow-up. Residual symptoms among those who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria were identified. Logistic regression analyses explored baseline predictors of the most persistent symptoms.Results: CAPS-5 total scores showed a significant reduction from pre- to post-treatment (d = 1.99) and remained improved at six-month follow-up (d = 1.48), despite a small to moderate increase in symptoms between post-treatment and follow-up (d = −0.38). Among those no longer meeting PTSD criteria post-treatment (75.8%) or at follow-up (63.2%), a substantial proportion (56.1% and 44.7% respectively) reported residual symptoms. The most frequently reported residual symptoms at six-months follow-up were negative beliefs (32.2%), negative feelings (28.7%), and intrusive memories (26.9%). The most persistent symptoms, based on odds ratios, were avoidance of thoughts or feelings (C1, OR = 38.38), intrusive memories (B1, OR = 25.00), and negative feelings (D4, OR = 22.12). Predictors of these residual symptoms included number of traumatic events, sexual trauma, suicidality, country of birth and receiving governmental income support.Conclusions: The results support growing awareness that, after seemingly successful trauma-focused treatment, a notable proportion of patients continue to suffer from specific PTSD symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring and tailored interventions targeting residual symptoms following treatment.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2537546PTSDintensive trauma-focused treatmentresidual symptomsfollow-uppredictorsCAPS-5 |
| spellingShingle | Frédérique A. M. Wesseling Eline M. Voorendonk Linda Rozendaal Ad de Jongh Symptom retention after successful intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder European Journal of Psychotraumatology PTSD intensive trauma-focused treatment residual symptoms follow-up predictors CAPS-5 |
| title | Symptom retention after successful intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_full | Symptom retention after successful intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_fullStr | Symptom retention after successful intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Symptom retention after successful intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_short | Symptom retention after successful intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_sort | symptom retention after successful intensive trauma focused treatment for post traumatic stress disorder |
| topic | PTSD intensive trauma-focused treatment residual symptoms follow-up predictors CAPS-5 |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2537546 |
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