Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy effectively addresses post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by targeting two main aspects: avoidance and promoting emotional processing. This approach involves two types of exposure:
- Imaginal exposure: The patient confronts the trauma memory mentally.
- In vivo exposure: The patient confronts safe reminders of the trauma in real-life scenarios.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical basis of PTSD in PE therapy is understood as a ‘fear structure’ within the patient’s memory, which acts as a programmed response for escaping perceived danger. This structure encompasses:
- Feared stimuli: Examples include a tall bald man or being alone in a house at night.
- Fear responses: Such as freezing, screaming, heart pounding, or crying.
- Meaning of stimuli and responses: Typically, these are associated with a sense of imminent danger.
Process of Exposure and Correction
Through repeated and prolonged exposure to trauma reminders, both in thought (imaginal exposure) and in real life (in vivo exposure), patients experience a decrease in distress. This process involves two critical learnings:
- Distress decreases even while confronting the fear-inducing situation or memory.
- The anticipated negative outcome (the subject of the fear) does not occur.
This method aims to ‘rewrite’ the fear structure with corrective information based on these experiences.
Techniques in Imaginal Exposure
During imaginal exposure, the therapist assists the patient in repeatedly confronting the trauma memory, leading to a natural reduction in distress. The process involves:
- Recounting the memory: Understanding what happened and the patient’s actions or inactions.
- Therapeutic inquiry: The therapist asks specific questions to elucidate the patient’s changing perceptions and memories across sessions.
Addressing Self-Blame and Context
A key part of therapy is addressing the context of the traumatic event. For instance, actions deemed necessary in a war zone might be judged harshly in civilian life. Patients often realize, through repeated exposure, that their actions were appropriate given the context, helping them to reframe their self-perception and reduce self-blame.
Reframing Trauma Narratives
Patients often hold onto narratives that exacerbate their PTSD, such as feeling personally responsible for negative outcomes in uncontrollable situations. Through detailed discussions and revisiting of the traumatic event, patients can develop a more realistic understanding of the event, often leading to a significant shift in their perspective.
Looking for practical everyday tools? This print-friendly handout is just what you need. Click on the following link to download the PDF:
Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: An Overview
This handout provides a summarized overview of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, a proven approach for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It outlines the foundational concept of PE therapy – the ‘fear structure’ in the patient’s memory, which includes feared stimuli, fear responses, and their associated meanings. The handout mentions the two primary exposure techniques used in PE therapy: imaginal exposure, where the patient mentally confronts the trauma memory, and in vivo exposure, involving real-life confrontation with trauma reminders. It emphasizes the therapeutic process of reducing distress through repeated exposure and correcting the fear structure with new experiences. Additionally, the handout points out how addressing self-blame and reframing trauma narratives help patients reshape their perceptions and memories of traumatic events. This resource aims to offer a quick summary for therapists regarding the essence of PE therapy’s mechanisms and its application in treating PTSD.
Instructions
After familiarizing yourself with prolonged exposure therapy, you can use this handout as a brief, summarized guide for implementing prolonged exposure (PE) therapy in treating PTSD. Begin by identifying the ‘fear structure’ in your patient’s narrative, including pinpointing specific feared stimuli, responses, and their meanings. If you are already acquainted with them, employ both imaginal and in vivo exposure techniques: guide your patients to confront trauma memories mentally and face safe trauma reminders in real-life scenarios. Address self-blame by contextualizing the traumatic event and work on reframing trauma narratives to develop a more realistic understanding of the event. This approach aims to diminish PTSD symptoms by transforming the patient’s fear responses and perceptions of the traumatic experience.