Evaluating the effectiveness of a group treatment program: Integrating neurobiology, post -traumatic stress disorder, and childhood trauma literature

Research has demonstrated that childhood abuse may negatively alter cognition, affect, and behavior throughout the lifespan (Briere, 1992; van der Kolk, 1988). PTSD related to childhood abuse has been increasingly associated with impaired memory functioning and neurobiological alterations (Briggs & Joyce, 1997; van der Kolk & Fisler, 1995). A review of the trauma and child abuse literature incorporates recent research from various theoretical perspectives.;In addition, the effectiveness of a treatment program is evaluated based on the literature review. Specifically, an inpatient program that utilized cathartic interventions within a supportive psycho-educational group context was examined. Catharsis was considered a critical treatment component because it is hypothesized to provide access to the implicit memory system (subcortical neural-networks) and allow traumatic experiences to reemerge (Levitt & Pinnell, 1995). Additional higher-order processing and subsequent development of explicit memory may increase impulse control, diminish PTSD symptoms, and decrease depression (Squire, 1992; Zola-Morgan & Squire, 1990). The group modality was utilized to address common issues faced by abuse victims and provide interpersonal support and validation during the expression of powerful affect.;Archival data collected from treatment seeking individuals suffering from the effects of negative childhood experiences including abuse and neglect was analyzed. An experimental group (N = 68) that completed the treatment program was compared to a non-treatment group (N = 15) to determine treatment effectiveness. Specified symptoms, PTSD symptomatology (Los Angeles Symptom Checklist), anxiety (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Scale 7 and A Scale), and depression (MMPI Scale 2 and the Beck Depression Inventory) were assessed.;It was hypothesized that treatment subjects would report decreased levels of symptoms when contrasted with the comparison group following treatment. A MANOVA revealed no significant differences between groups for PTSD symptoms, anxiety, or depression. A clinical significance analysis also revealed that experimental subjects and no-treatment comparison subjects improved over time on all variables at the nine-month follow-up period. Possible reasons for the lack of statistical findings are given and suggestions for future research are presented.