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

Citation

Wilson KA, Power KG, Graham L, Reid L, Duncan K & Shand S (2022) Effectiveness of a Group Psychoeducational Course for Adult Interpersonal Trauma Survivors in Scotland. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 31 (3), pp. 392-409. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2021.2013379

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

Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma: Volume 31, Issue 3