Posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic pain arising from motor vehicle accidents: efficacy of interoceptive exposure plus trauma-related exposure therapy.

Preliminary data are presented on the pattern of treatment response of combining interoceptive exposure (IE) with trauma-related exposure therapy (TRE) in five female patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid chronic musculoskeletal pain originating from motor vehicle accidents. Treatment consisted of four sessions of IE followed by eight sessions of TRE. Four participants reported a reduction in PTSD symptoms after completing treatment, and three no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

Work limitations in employed persons seeking treatment for chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

This preliminary study examined work limitations in 27 employed persons seeking treatment for chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the Work Limitations Questionnaire (Lerner et al., 2001). Results showed that this sample experienced an impaired ability to perform time management demands, output demands, and mental-interpersonal demands at work.

The psychological consequences of occupational blood and body fluid exposure injuries.

Purpose: This article describes the psychological impact of occupational blood and body fluid (BBF) exposure injuries and provides suggestions for improving clinical practice.

Method: A literature review was conducted to search for articles relating to the psychological consequences and management of these work injuries.

Results: Acute psychological symptoms including posttraumatic stress, anxiety and depression are frequently experienced postexposure, which appear to be the major contributing factors of time loss from work.

Responses to interoceptive exposure in people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a preliminary analysis of induced anxiety reactions and trauma memories and their relationship to anxiety sensitivity and PTSD symptom severity.

A growing body of evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity (AS; fear of arousal-related sensations) plays a role in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Consistent with this, evidence indicates that interoceptive exposure (IE), which is a method for reducing AS, reduces PTSD symptoms. Clinical observations from our treatment studies indicate that IE triggers both anxiety and trauma memories in people with PTSD.

Efficacy of interoceptive exposure therapy combined with trauma-related exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study.

The aim of this case series was to examine efficacy of interoceptive exposure (IE) combined with trauma-related exposure therapy (TRE) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Seven participants completed treatment consisting of four weekly sessions of IE followed by eight weekly sessions of TRE (four sessions of imaginal exposure and four sessions of in vivo exposure). Assessments were conducted at pretreatment, posttreatment, 1- and 3-month follow-up.

Expectations and attributions in social anxiety disorder: diagnostic distinctions and relationship to general anxiety and depression.

Contemporary cognitive models suggest that social anxiety disorder arises from a number of cognitive factors, including tendencies to form pessimistic (rather than optimistic) attributions and expectations for socially-related events. These models also assume that the strengths of such attributions and expectations are more closely linked with social anxiety than with general anxiety or depression. To test these assumptions, a battery of self-report measures was completed by participants with a primary diagnosis of generalized social anxiety disorder (n = 75), panic disorder with agoraphobia (n = 44), or post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 59).

Interoceptive exposure therapy combined with trauma-related exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: a case report.

Trauma-related exposure therapy is a useful but not universally effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety sensitivity may play an important role in this disorder, as it does in panic disorder. Studies have shown that interoceptive exposure therapy reduces anxiety sensitivity in panic disorder.

Cognitive behavioural and neuropsychiatric treatment of post-traumatic conversion disorder: a case study.

Conversion disorder consists of involuntary sensory or motor symptoms and deficits that cannot be explained by a general medical condition. There are several treatment options, although none has emerged as the treatment of choice. The present case study examined the effects of adding cognitive behaviour therapy to neuropsychiatric management of conversion disorder (motor subtype).

Preliminary research on the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy to treat driving phobia.

This article presents a review of preliminary research of two studies of the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) to treat driving phobia. Study 1 describes a case study of a patient who completed a 7-day baseline followed by three sessions of VRET. Her peak anxiety decreased within and across sessions.