ABSTRACT
Early interventions to prevent PTSD have been limited in scope and effectiveness. This pilot study examines the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a model for brief preventive intervention: 1-session individualized exposure-based therapy delivered in the emergency department (ED). Eligible patients who experienced exposure to a traumatic event in the previous 24 hours were screened and assigned to assessment-only (n = 5) or intervention (imaginal exposure, n = 5) conditions. Both groups returned for 1-week follow-up. Results indicate that patients receiving this intervention reported slightly decreased levels of depression at 1-week follow-up and were rated lower on clinician-rated global severity of symptoms than patients in the assessment-only condition. The level of subject participation and ED staff support in this pilot study argues for feasibility of data collection, intervention, and follow-up with this population. Results also offer evidence that the intervention did not appear to harm participants and in fact may be helpful.
