Researchers review limited literature available on PTSD prevention

Current research indicates that at some point in their life up to 84% of people will be exposed to some form of traumatic event. Although effective post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments have been - and continue to be - developed, there remains a lack in relevant research pertaining to the prevention of PTSD.

A group of researchers from the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology at Curtin University in Western Australia recently reviewed limited literature available on PTSD prevention with the goal to identify and compare resilience-building programs that can be designed for anyone exposed to a traumatic event. Their article, "The Primary Prevention of PTSD: A Systematic Review," is now available in Volume 14, Issue 4, 2013 of Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, published by Routledge, a Member of the Taylor & Francis Group. 

"Petra Skeffington and colleagues' exhaustive review of the literature unearthed a dismayingly small number of studies of widely varying quality and revealed our own lack of understanding on how to best prevent the development of chronic distress following the exposure to traumatic events," said Jennifer J. Freyd, Ph.D., Editor of Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. "The authors challenge the field of trauma psychology to expand upon its reliance on reactive treatments for those experiencing post-traumatic distress."

According to the article, a resilience-building program is "any kind of structured psychological skills training delivered to either an individual or group with the aim of improving psychological functioning or well being."  From the research, 3 pre-trauma programs combining psychoeducation with a skills-building component were identified. The skills-based components include anxiety reducing and relaxation techniques, coping strategies and identifying thoughts, emotions and body tension, choosing how to act, attention control, and emotion processing and regulation.  Of the studies revealing potential prevention effects, training ranged from 4 hours, half a day, and 14 sessions at 45 minutes each.

Implications of the review show PTSD prevention techniques are plausible; however, the researchers admit an immediate path to PTSD prevention is a long while away. Much of the research obtained for the review involved high risk professions in which traumatic experiences have a higher potential, such as policing.  Of the studies reviewed, most samples did not exceed 10 people. There is also the complicated issue of traumatic events being unpredictable. "As this  research domain is in its early  stages, the  use  of randomized, controlled methodologies; larger sample sizes;  baseline measures; and  specific measurement of traumatic exposure and  PTSD symptoms would further knowledge in this area," wrote the researchers.