Treatment-Resistant PTSD: The Role of Avoidance in the Relationship Between Treatment Non-Response and PTSD Symptom Severity

Moolen, Mike van der (2023) Treatment-Resistant PTSD: The Role of Avoidance in the Relationship Between Treatment Non-Response and PTSD Symptom Severity. Master thesis, Psychology.

Text Eindversie_Masterthese_S3729060.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (757kB)

Abstract

Background: Treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to a condition where PTSD symptomatology of PTSD patients remains high despite receiving evidence- based treatment for PTSD. However, there is currently no consensus on the concept treatment-resistant PTSD. It remains unclear which factors play a role in the persistence of PTSD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment non-response levels predicted PTSD symptom severity and to investigate whether avoidance strengthened the relation between treatment non-response and PTSD symptom severity. Method: The current sample consisted of treatment-resistant veterans (N = 15) that took part in a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of a novel trauma-focused treatment called Multi- modular Motion-Assisted Desensitization Reconsolidation (3MDR). Single and multiple regression analyses were conducted to answer the research questions. Results: Results of this study showed that treatment non-response was not related to PTSD symptom severity and showed that avoidance did not strengthen the relationship between treatment non-response and PTSD symptom severity. Discussion: These findings are not in line with previous studies, which showed that avoidance plays a central role in de persistence of PTSD. Future research should focus on the contribution of different types of avoidance in the persistence of PTSD and investigate the role of other factors such as hyperarousal symptoms in treatment-resistant PTSD. Keywords: Treatment-resistant PTSD, treatment non-response, PTSD symptom severity, avoidance.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Haart, O.F. de
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	19 Jul 2023 14:40
Last Modified:	19 Jul 2023 14:40
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2476

Actions (login required)

View Item