Cognitive behavioral therapy of violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) represents the most common psychiatric condition following exposure to violence. Although an increasing number of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) studies point to efficacy of this approach in ameliorating PTSD following violence, the methodological rigor of many studies has not been optimal. Further, a significant proportion of traumatized individuals does not benefit from CBT. This article reviews CBT outcome studies, discusses the methodological limitations of CBT studies for PTSD, and offers suggestions for future research. This review highlights the need for more systematic studies of components of CBT with a range of trauma populations to delineate the parameters of effective CBT for individuals with PTSD. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.