Prolonged Exposure & PTSD Prolonged exposure (PE) is an effective first-line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), regardless of the type of trauma, for Veterans and military personnel. Extensive research and clinical practice guidelines from various organizations support this conclusion. PE is effective in reducing PTSD symptoms and has also demonstrated efficacy in reducing comorbid issues such as anger, guilt, negative health perceptions, and depression. PE has demonstrated efficacy in diagnostically complex populations and survivors of single- and multiple-incident traumas. The PE protocol includes four main therapeutic components (Rauch, Eftekhari & Ruzek, 2012). First, psychoeducation occurs primarily in the first three sessions and focuses on PTSD symptoms and the patient’s experience of those symptoms. Psychoeducation conveys the overarching idea that avoidance maintains PTSD symptoms, while confronting trauma-related stimuli and memories can reduce PTSD symptoms. Secondly, In vivo exposure involves confronting people, places, and things that are trauma reminders. Thirdly, imaginal exposure involves revisiting trauma reminders and engaging with the emotional content of the memory. During imaginal exposure, the patient closes his or her eyes and goes through the memory in the present tense with all the thoughts, feeling, and details he or she can include from the time of the trauma. Finally, emotional processing involves the therapist moving through the emotional content of the memory with the patient through open-ended discussion of the trauma and the experience of the …show more content…
Thus, if PTSD is primary for a patient and the patient is not in imminent risk of harm (from self or others), PE may be indicated and should be considered as a critical part of the treatment