Trauma healing via cognitive behavior therapy in chronically hospitalized patients.

RATIONALE: This study examines the effect of Skill Training In Affect Regulation (STAIR) on a cohort of 24 inpatients with Schizophrenia with histories of significant trauma and Complex PTSD.

METHOD: Using a model of Trauma Healing proposed by the NYS Office of Mental Health, 24 patients underwent 12 weeks of group-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Treatment modalities focused on trust, safety, affect-regulation, identification of trauma triggers, and disrupting abuse-driven behaviors. A comparison group of patients received 12 weeks of supportive psychotherapy by therapists unfamiliar with Trauma Management. Treatment outcome was compared using the Modified Impact of Events, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales.

RESULTS

Following completion of 12 weeks of therapy, only those patients undergoing therapy in Trauma Recovery showed improvement on items such as tension, excitement, hostility, suspiciousness, and anger-control.

CONCLUSION

These findings are an encouraging first step in trauma recovery of patients with chronic mental illness, histories of prolonged trauma, and Complex PTSD.