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Reduced frequency of prolonged exposure can still be effective as PTSD treatment

VA Research News Briefs

Reduced frequency of prolonged exposure can still be effective as PTSD treatment©iStock/NoSystem images

(05/21/2025) Researchers at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, found prolonged exposure therapy may still be an effective treatment for PTSD even when received less frequently than recommended. Prolonged exposure therapy is a form of talk therapy that teaches patients to confront trauma-associated situations, reducing patterns of avoidance and lessening PTSD symptoms. It is typically administered once or twice a week for eight to 15 sessions. However, that treatment frequency can be difficult for many patients. In a group of 648 Veterans who received prolonged exposure therapy in the same year, the average time between sessions was nearly 11 days. Analysis revealed session frequency did not affect PTSD symptom reductions for Veterans who completed at least eight sessions though. The findings suggest prolonged exposure therapy may still be a worthwhile PTSD treatment when weekly or twice-weekly sessions are not feasible for patients. (Military Psychology, May 14, 2025)



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