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Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.

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Effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for terrorism victims with very long-term emotional disorders

Natalia Moreno1, Jesús Sanz2, María Paz García-Vera2, Clara Gesteira2, Sara Gutiérrez2, Alejandro Zapardiel1, Beatriz Cobos1, Sylvia Marotta-Walters3

1 Asociación Víctimas del Terrorismo,
2 Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and
3 The George Washington University

Background: There are no published studies on the clinical utility of psychotherapy in victims of terrorism who suffer emotional disorders many years after the attacks. Method: A course of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy was administered to 50 victims of terrorist attacks that occurred an average of 23 years previously and who presented isolated or concurrent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 74%), major depressive disorder (54%), panic disorder (38%), or other anxiety disorders (38%). Results: According to an intention-to-treat analysis (N=50), these percentages decreased significantly to 24% (PTSD and major depression), 16% (panic disorder) and 14% (other anxiety disorders) at 1-year follow-up. According to a complete data analysis, at posttreatment no victims (n=31) still presented major depressive or panic disorder, only 3.2% presented PTSD and 9.7% presented other anxiety disorders, whereas at 1-year follow-up, no victims presented any disorders (n=22). At posttreatment and at the 1-, 3-, 6-month, and 1-year follow-ups, large statistically and clinically significant decreases in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptomatology were found (d=1.26 to 2.52 at 1-year follow-up). Conclusions: These results suggest that efficacious treatments for recent victims are also useful in the usual clinical practice for victims with very long-term emotional disorders.

Efectividad de la terapia cognitivo conductual centrada en el trauma para víctimas de terrorismo con trastornos emocionales a muy largo plazo. Antecedentes: no hay estudios publicados sobre la utilidad clínica de la psicoterapia para víctimas del terrorismo con trastornos emocionales muchos años después del atentado. Método: se administró terapia cognitivo conductual centrada en el trauma a 50 víctimas de atentados ocurridos una media de 23 años antes y que presentaban aislada o concurrentemente trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT; 74%), depresivo mayor (54%), de angustia (38%) u otros trastornos de ansiedad (38%). Resultados: según un análisis de intención de tratar, esos porcentajes disminuyeron significativamente al año a 24% (TEPT y depresión mayor), 16% (trastorno de angustia) y 14% (trastornos de ansiedad). Según un análisis con datos completos, en el postratamiento ninguna víctima (n=31) presentaba ya trastorno depresivo mayor o de angustia y solo un 3,2% TEPT y un 9,7% otros trastornos de ansiedad, mientras que al año ninguna víctima presentaba trastornos (n=22). En el postratamiento y en los seguimientos a 1, 3 y 6 meses y al año, hubo descensos en sintomatología de TEPT, depresión y ansiedad estadística y clínicamente significativos y grandes (d=1.26 a 2.52 al año). Conclusiones: los tratamientos eficaces para víctimas recientes también son útiles en la práctica clínica en víctimas con trastornos emocionales a muy largo plazo.

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