Abstract
The Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Author(s): Mohammad Saleh Shokouhi Qara Saadlou, Firoozeh Abolhasani Zadeh, Arman Jafaripour, Saeid Motevalli and Motahhareh Isarizadeh*Most people who experience trauma like terrorism, war, natural disasters, physical/sexual abuse, emerging diseases, road accidents, and migration would suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a psychological result of an event or a stressful situation with a threatening/disastrous nature which can be a comorbid condition with behavioral disorders, physical problems, and other psychological maladaptive conditions like depression. PTSD treatment by medication interventions, e.g. antidepressants, anticoagulants, Beta-adrenergic antagonists, and opioid drugs have led to discouraging results. Hence, a wide range of psychotherapies like Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) has been used in managing PTSD. As a psychosocial intervention, CBT emphasizes changing behaviors and cognitive deviances (i.e. thoughts, beliefs, attitudes), improving emotional regulation, as well as developing personal coping strategies targeting the current problems. The present review investigates experimental evidence for CBT as an effective treatment for PTSD.