PE for PTSD: Summary of Intermediate Sessions Structure
Associate Vice-Chair of Clinical Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
Director, Emory Healthcare Veterans Program
Director, Emory Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program
Paul A. Janssen Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology
Key Points
- The structure of the intermediate sessions includes homework review, imaginal exposure with hot spots, processing, and homework assignment.
- Introduce hot spots in about session 5 and continue with exposure to hot spots for the rest of treatment.
- Patients should be moving up the hierarchy for in vivo exposure and also engaging in behavioral activation activities.
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Transcript
Video 7: Take-Home Messages.
We introduce hot spots in about session 5 and continue with exposure to hot spots for the rest of treatment until the final session. The hot spots are the most currently distressing parts of the trauma.
Foa, E., Hembree, E. A., Rothbaum, B. O., & Rauch, S. (2019). Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD: Emotional processing of traumatic experiences - Therapist guide (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
We pick 1 hot spot to begin with and you’ll repeat that one part of the memory over and over, just by itself, focusing in closely and describing what happened in great detail—as if in slow motion—including what you felt, saw, heard, and thought. We will repeat it as many times as necessary to wear it out or bring about a big decrease in SUDS. When that part seems to have been sufficiently processed, we’ll move on to the next one.
Foa, E., Hembree, E. A., Rothbaum, B. O., & Rauch, S. (2019). Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD: Emotional processing of traumatic experiences - Therapist guide (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.