Effectiveness of a Group Psychoeducational Course for Adult Interpersonal Trauma Survivors in Scotland

ABSTRACT

Limited evidence exists for phase one, manualized group interventions to aid recovery from complex trauma and its consequent symptomology. The current project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-week psychoeducational course (Survive and Thrive) for adult survivors of interpersonal trauma. Over a 3-year period, 199 participants attended at least the first session of the course. The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – outcome measure (CORE-OM; Evans et al., 2000) was administered every session while the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2013), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire – Short (CERQ-short; Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale – Short Form (DERS-SF; Kaufman et al., 2016) were administered at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Intent-to-treat analysis (ITT) was employed using last observation carried forward (LOCF). Significant reductions from pre- to mid- to post-intervention were found in global distress (ηp² = 0.14) and PTSD symptomology (ηp² = 0.17). Significant improvements were observed on several emotion regulation DERS-SF (ηp² = 0.03–0.41; strategies, non-acceptance, goals, clarity), and CERQ-short subscales (ηp² = 0.02–0.06; self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, and positive re-focusing). None were found for impulsivity; awareness; other blame; perspective; positive reappraisal; acceptance or planning (p <.05). This project provides further preliminary evidence for Survive and Thrive’s effectiveness.

KEYWORDS:

• Emotion regulation
• Survive and Thrive
• Intent-to-treat analysis
• Interpersonal trauma
• Psychoeducation

Disclosure statement

We have no known conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Funding was sourced from the Scottish Government and devolved to NHS health-boards; Mental Health Innovation Funds were then granted for Survive and Thrive.