What is it about?
How do patients experience taking part in a psychotherapy study? We conducted interviews with 17 participants in a randomized clinical trial focusing on PTSD treatments for childhood trauma. Our study revealed conflicts between following the trial's structure and personal needs, linked to participants’ trauma history.
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Why is it important?
This research sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of patients participating in psychotherapy trials. While these trials are essential for determining which therapies are effective, they can unintentionally place added stress on patients, especially those with trauma histories. Understanding how the structure and demands of a trial affect this patient group helps researchers design studies that are more supportive and considerate of participants’ needs.
Perspectives
I hope this study not only validates the experiences of trial participants but also inspires future psychotherapy researchers to prioritize both treatment effectiveness and patient well-being. It’s rewarding to think our work might lead to more adaptable trials that consider how the structure of an RCT affects participants, especially those with a history of trauma. By sharing participants’ voices, I feel we’re helping make mental health research more considerate of the people it involves.
Eva Irene Fechau
MSB Medical School Berlin
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The balancing act of fitting in: A grounded theory study on how patients with posttraumatic stress disorder following childhood maltreatment experience participating in a randomized controlled psychotherapy study., Qualitative Psychology, October 2024, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/qup0000304.
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