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About 70% of people experience trauma in their lifetimes, and most demonstrate natural recovery and do not get post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychological debriefing in groups can interfere with natural recovery. However, early intervention with prolonged exposure (within hours of the trauma) has been shown to promote a 50% reduction in PTSD risk at follow-up. Using broadly similar methods, these researchers aimed to resolve the question of optimal dosing.
The 95 participants with recent trauma were identified in a trauma center (50% women; mean age, 35) and randomized to receive assessment only, 1 session of therapy, or 3 sessions of therapy. The most frequent trauma type was motor-vehicle collision (n=40), followed by nonsexual as…