ERIC Number: EJ983089
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1555-7855
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Functional Analytic Psychotherapy as an Adjunct to Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Theory and Application in a Single Case Design
Pedersen, Eric R.; Callaghan, Glenn M.; Prins, Annabel; Nguyen, Hong; Tsai, Mavis
International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, v27 n2-3 p125-134 2012
Evidence-based treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be enhanced by Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP; Kohlenberg & Tsai, 1991; Tsai et al., 2009). As PTSD can include a variety of problems with interpersonal relationships (e.g., trust of others), manualized treatments may not afford clinicians enough time and flexibility to work on reinforcing client improvements in interpersonal functioning during sessions. Avoidance, which works to alleviate anxiety in the short-term but may lead to distress and complications in the long-term, can manifest in therapy when patients do not return after the initial sessions of treatment or when they block emotional content during targeted emotional processing work. Thus, it is important for clinicians to understand how to use the therapeutic relationship to reduce avoidance symptoms of PTSD in session and reduce dropout rates. FAP can be useful in this regard as an adjunct to efficacious cognitive-behavioral treatments of PTSD. A case study utilizing FAP after a cognitive-behavioral intervention for PTSD is discussed to present an analysis of how FAP may have contributed to client improvements in avoidance symptoms and in interpersonal relationships outside of therapy. Theory behind FAP is discussed to convey how this therapy can be a useful adjunctive treatment for PTSD. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Psychotherapy, Patients, Dropout Rate, Interpersonal Relationship, Anxiety, Emotional Response, Cognitive Processes, Counselor Client Relationship, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Cognitive Restructuring, Behavior Modification, Case Studies
Joseph Cautilli, Ph.D. & The Behavior Analyst Online Organization. 535 Queen Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-3220. Tel: 215-462-6737; Web site: http://www.baojournal.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
