Background: Given the paucity of literature for subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is more prevalent than full PTSD but still causing substantial distress and low psychological function, we tested a novel imagery-based sequential trauma psychotherapy for adults with subthreshold PTSD.
Objective: This study examined the efficacy of safety of the eight sessions of ISRT for adult outpatients with subthreshold PTSD, recruited from a psychiatric outpatient unit of a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea.
Methods: Eight sessions of 60-mimute individual psychotherapy were delivered to 25 adult participants with civilian trauma and 23 completed the treatment, defined by receiving at least six sessions or early termination due to clinical improvement. The clinician-administered PTSD scale for DSM-5, the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales, and self-questionnaires were administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 6-month follow up.
Results: Seven (30%) out of 23 reached the complete remission of PTSD and 15 of 23 (65%) showed treatment response (30% or more decrease in PTSD scores) after treatment. There was significant decrease in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life scores after treatment and these gains were maintained after six months. One case of exacerbated PTSD symptoms were observed (25% increase in CAPS-5 score).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of this novel psychotherapy for subthreshold PTSD including maintenance of treatment gains at six-month follow-up.

Authors:
Daeho Kim, Hanyang University, South Korea
Hyuji Lee, Aeromedical Center, South Korea
Jiyoung Min, Child Protection Agency, South Korea
Eunkyoung Kim, Hanyang University, South Korea

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Kim is a current professor at Department of Psychiatry, Medical College, Hanyang University, Seoul and director at Trauma and Stress Program, Hanyang Unviersity Guri Hospital, Geyeonggido, South Korea.

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