A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of providing self-help information to people with symptoms of acute stress disorder following a traumatic injury - PubMed (original) (raw)

Randomized Controlled Trial

. 2007 Nov;45(11):2527-36.

doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2007.06.009. Epub 2007 Jun 23.

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Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of providing self-help information to people with symptoms of acute stress disorder following a traumatic injury

Cathy Scholes et al. Behav Res Ther. 2007 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Patients attending accident and emergency (A&E) may develop long-term psychological difficulties. Psycho-education has been suggested to reduce the risk of post-injury disorders.

Aims: We tested the efficacy of providing self-help information to a high-risk sample.

Methods: A&E attenders were screened for acute stress disorder and randomised to two groups: patients (n=116) receiving a self-help booklet and those who did not (n=111). A sample of 'low' scorers was also included (n=120); they did not receive a booklet. Psychological assessments were completed at baseline (within 1 month post-injury) and 3 and 6 months post-injury.

Results: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression decreased (p<0.001) across time but there were no group differences in these measures or quality of life. However, subjective ratings of the usefulness of the self-help booklet were very high.

Conclusions: This trial failed to support the efficacy of providing self-help information, as a preventative strategy to ameliorate PTSD.

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