2015 EST Status: Treatment pending re-evaluation Very strong: High-quality evidence that treatment improves symptoms and functional outcomes at post-treatment and follow-up; little risk of harm; requires reasonable amount of resources; effective in non-research settings

Strong: Moderate- to high-quality evidence that treatment improves symptoms OR functional outcomes; not a high risk of harm; reasonable use of resources

Weak: Low or very low-quality evidence that treatment produces clinically meaningful effects on symptoms or functional outcomes; Gains from the treatment may not warrant resources involved

Insufficient Evidence: No meta-analytic study could be identified

Insufficient Evidence: Existing meta-analyses are not of sufficient quality

Treatment pending re-evaluation

1998 EST Status: Strong Research Support Strong: Support from two well-designed studies conducted by independent investigators.

Modest: Support from one well-designed study or several adequately designed studies.

Controversial: Conflicting results, or claims regarding mechanisms are unsupported.

Brief Summary

Treatment Resources

Editors:Denise Sloan, PhD; Alexandra Greenfield, MS

Note: The resources provided below are intended to supplement not replace foundational training in mental health treatment and evidence-based practice

Treatment Manuals / Outlines

Treatment Manuals

Books Available for Purchase Through External Sites

• Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Adults, Therapist Guide
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Adults, Client Workbook
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Adolescents, Therapist Guide

Training Materials and Workshops

• Description of Prolonged Exposure Therapy (Veterans Administration’s National Center for PTSD)
• Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety

Measures, Handouts and Worksheets

• Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI); Subscales for PTCI; Scoring Key for PTCI
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Teen Workbook (Chrestman, Gilboa-Schechtman, & Foa)

Smartphone Apps

• PE Coach, available for free on iTunes
• PTSD Coach, available for free on iTunes

Video Demonstrations

• Dateline story on Prolonged Exposure (2004)

Video Descriptions

Clinical Trials

• Prolonged exposure therapy for combat- and terror-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized control comparison with treatment as usual (Nacasch et al., 2011)
• A randomized controlled trial of exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring for posttraumatic stress disorder (Bryant et al., 2008)
• A comparison of exposure therapy, stress inoculation training, and their combination for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder in female assault victims (Foa et al., 1999)
• Comparative efficacy, speed, and adverse effects of three PTSD treatments: Exposure therapy, EMDR, and relaxation training (Talyor et al., 2003)
• Randomized trial of prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder with and without cognitive restructuring: outcome at academic and community clinics (Foa et al., 2005)
• A comparison of cognitive-processing therapy with prolonged exposure and a waiting condition for the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in female rape victims (Resick et al., 2002)
• Concurrent naltrexone and prolonged exposure therapy for patients withcomorbid alcohol dependence and PTSD: A randomized clinical trial (Foa et al., 2013)
• Prolonged exposure vs supportive counseling for sexual abuse–related PTSD in adolescent girls: A randomized clinical trial (Foa et al., 2013)
  
   

Meta-analyses and Systematic Reviews

• Prolonged exposure therapy: past, present, and future (Foa, 2011)
• Prolonged exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder review of evidence and dissemination (McClean & Foa, 2011)
• A meta-analytic review of prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder (Powers et al., 2010)