Treatment of acute stress disorder: A comparison of cognitive-behavioral therapy and supportive counseling.

TLDR

Acute stress disorder is a precursor to chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. Twenty‑four civilians with ASD received five brief sessions of either cognitive‑behavioral therapy or supportive counseling within two weeks of trauma. CBT markedly reduced PTSD incidence and symptom severity compared to supportive counseling, with only 8 % meeting PTSD criteria posttreatment versus 83 % for SC, and 17 % versus 67 % at six months, marking the first evidence that CBT can prevent chronic PTSD.

Abstract

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a precursor of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Twenty-four participants with ASD following civilian trauma were given 5 sessions of either cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or supportive counseling (SC) within 2 weeks of their trauma. Fewer participants in CBT (8%) than in SC (83%) met criteria for PTSD at posttreatment. There were also fewer cases of PTSD in the CBT condition (17%) than in the SC condition (67%) 6 months posttrauma. There were greater statistically and clinically significant reductions in intrusive, avoidance, and depressive symptomatology among the CBT participants than among the SC participants. This study represents the 1st demonstration of successful treatment of ASD with CBT and its efficacy in preventing chronic PTSD.