Question: In veterans of the armed forces with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), how effective are trauma-focussed CBT (TFCBT), eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) and narrative exposure therapy, compared to any other non-pharmacological interventions, specifically metaphors of movement, neuro-linguistic programming(NLP), hypnotherapy, integral eye movement therapy and emotional freedom technique, in reducing PTSD symptoms?

Answer:

Clinical and research implications

There was very little evidence specific to the effectiveness or comparative effectiveness of different psychological interventions for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans. Data about the effectiveness of trauma-focussed cognitive behavioural therapy and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing interventions were inconsistent and any treatment effects reported were generally short term and for self-reported outcome measures. There was no evidence about the effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy.

Larger, high quality randomised controlled trials are needed to provide reliable assessments of the relative effectiveness of different psychological interventions for the treatment PTSD. Trials conducted in combat veterans are particularly needed, as this population is currently under represented in the evidence base.

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