Citation

Paivio SC, Jarry JL, Chagigiorgis H, Hall I, Ralston M. Psychother. Res. 2010; 20(3): 353-366.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Society for Psychotherapy Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10503300903505274

PMID

20099203

Abstract

This study evaluated and compared emotion-focused therapy for trauma (EFTT) with imaginal confrontation (IC) of perpetrators (n=20) and EFTT with empathic exploration (EE) of trauma material (n=25). Clients were women and men with histories of different types of childhood maltreatment (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; emotional neglect). Clients were randomly assigned to treatment condition. Outcome measures assessed symptom distress, self and interpersonal problems, and abuse resolution. Results indicated statistically and clinically significant improvements on eight measures at posttest, maintenance of gains at follow-up, and no statistically significant differences between conditions. There were higher rates of clinically significant change in IC and a lower attrition rate for EE (7% vs. 20%). More severe personality pathology negatively influenced some dimensions of outcome, particularly in EE.

Language: en