Trauma-Related Symptom Improvement in Multimodal Triphasic Trauma Therapy: Findings From a Community-Based Study

Abstract

Objective

This single-arm effectiveness study explored changes in trauma-related symptoms—including dissociation, depression, anxiety, sexual issues and sleep disturbances—throughout a multimodal, phased trauma intervention, to explore treatment response in real-world settings with varied populations and complex clinical presentations, as well as varied degrees of clinician experience.

Method

Symptom change was assessed among participants undergoing a triphasic trauma therapy called trauma practice. Data were collected at five time points: pretreatment (n = 41), Phase 1 (n = 37), Phase 2 (n = 25), Phase 3 (n = 20) and follow-up (n = 16). Participants completed self-report measures at the start of therapy, after each therapy phase and 6 months post treatment. The average age of participants was 37.6 years (SD = 12.5). Approximately 63.8% identified as female, 55% were born in Canada and 47.5% identified as Caucasian.

Results

The findings revealed statistically and clinically significant reductions in symptoms across all measured domains. On average, participants transitioned from clinically elevated levels of dissociation, anxiety, depression, sexual difficulties and sleep disturbances at baseline to non-clinical levels by the end of therapy. Moderate to large effect sizes, clinically significant reliable change indices and sustained treatment gains were demonstrated at follow-up.

Conclusion

These results suggest that trauma practice holds promise as an effective intervention for trauma in community clinical settings.