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The Efficacy of Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Veterans: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Abstract
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) has been widely utilized as a leading treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluates the efficacy of PE in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving overall functioning in veterans. Through an extensive review of the literature, the meta-analysis synthesizes effect sizes from RCTs assessing the effectiveness of PE compared to control conditions (e.g., waitlist, supportive therapy) in targeting core symptoms of PTSD, including intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, negative cognitions, and hyperarousal. Additionally, it examines potential moderators of treatment outcomes, such as treatment duration, therapist experience, session frequency, and participant characteristics (e.g., combat exposure, comorbidities), to better understand the factors influencing the effectiveness of PE for PTSD in veterans.
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References
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