Changes in comorbid depression following intensive trauma-focused treatment for PTSD and complex PTSD.

Background: The extent to which intensive trauma-focused treatment for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also effective in treating comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that brief intensive trauma-focused therapy for PTSD is associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms and loss of diagnostic status of MDD.

Methods: A total of 334 adult patients with PTSD (189 patients who were also diagnosed with MDD) underwent a brief intensive trauma-focused treatment programme consisting of EMDR therapy, prolonged exposure, physical activity, and psychoeducation.

Adding physical activity to intensive trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of physical activity added to an intensive trauma-focused treatment (TFT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in comparison to adding non-physical control activities.

Methods: A total of 119 patients with PTSD were randomly assigned to a physical activity condition (PA; = 59) or a non-physical activity control condition (nPA; = 60). The 8-day intensive TFT programme consisted of daily prolonged exposure, EMDR therapy, and psychoeducation, which was complemented with physical activities versus controlled mixtures of guided (creative) tasks.