The effectiveness of prolonged exposure therapy for the treatment of PTSD and suicide ideation: a case study
- Authors: Mhlane, Zuziwe Gloria
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder South Africa , Suicidal ideation , Prolonged exposure therapy , Post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescence South Africa , Emotional process , Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation , Beck Depression Inventory , Beck Anxiety Inventory , CORE-OM
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424997 , vital:72200
- Description: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is regarded as a public health burden in South Africa (SA) (Atwoli et al., 2013; Kagee, Bantjies & Saal 2017; Koenen et al.; 2017; Williams et al., 2007). According to McGowan & Kagee (2013), young adults in SA are a high-risk group of trauma. Exposure to trauma is also associated to comorbid conditions such as depression, anxiety suicidal ideation (SI) experienced by a large population (Bantjes, McGowan, Kagee & Steel, 2016). Prolonged Exposure (PE) is empirically supported and evaluated trauma therapy for PTSD (Foa, Hembree, & Rothbaum, 2007). However, there has been limited to no studies conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of PE in SA. Therefore, this study investigated whether PE is effective treatment for PTSD symptom reduction and suicide ideation in South Africa. Three participants were recruited from Focus on the Family SA (FOTF SA SA) through purposive sampling, and single-case experimental design (SCED) was utilised. PE was implemented online through zoom for 6 sessions on each client. At baseline, all the participants met the criteria for PTSD as per the Post-traumatic stress disorder symptom scale interview for DSM-5 (PSSI-5): Participant 1 (PSSI-5 - 63), Participant 2 (PSSI-5 - 53), Participant 3 (PSSI-5 - 63) and the clinical cut off score is 23. Furthermore, all participants were screened for suicide ideation (SI) using the Beck Suicide Inventory (BSI). All participants’ BSI score ranges were mild to moderate. Participants were also screened for depression using the Beck Depression Inventory second edition (BDI-II) and anxiety using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The score ranges for both BDI-II and BAI were moderate to severe. The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) was also used to assess general psychological distress. The CORE-OM scores for all the participants for trauma, depression and anxiety were severe. However, the risk to self/SI for all the participants was minimal. During the intervention phase, all the participants scores showed a downtrend of PTSD symptomology, as per the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The PCL-5 scores went down from PCL-5 score of 58 to final session PCL-5 score of 3. The clinical cut off score is 31-33. They were also screened using the BSI, BDI and BAI and the score ranges were mild. The CORE-OM scores for trauma, anxiety, depression, and risk to self/SI were also minimal. Overall, the preliminary result of this study supports the notion that adults with symptoms of PTSD and SI had improved at the end of a brief 6-session PE intervention. The comorbid depression also showed a downtrend. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
The professional experiences of early career counselling psychologists in South Africa: a mixed method study
- Authors: Haine, Phillipa Claire
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Counseling psychology South Africa , Career development , Counseling psychologists Training of South Africa , Mixed methods research , Interpretative phenomenological analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432321 , vital:72861 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432322
- Description: Counselling psychologists represent a considerable proportion of psychologists in South Africa (SA), yet knowledge on the discipline’s workforce is limited. In addition, professional lifespan issues have received inadequate attention, inclusive of the early career stage, identified as an exceptionally vulnerable segment of the professional lifespan. Undergirded by an interpretative phenomenology research paradigm, this mixed method sequential explanatory study, consisting of two distinct phases, aimed to explore the professional experiences of early career counselling psychologists (counselling ECPs) in SA, inclusive of employment trends, challenges and support needs. The quantitative phase (‘First Phase’) comprised of an online survey questionnaire (n = 512) to investigate the employment trends of counselling ECPs in SA. A qualitative phase (‘Second Phase’) followed, comprising of online semi-structured interviews with ten counselling ECPs. The rationale for this was that the preliminary quantitative data provided a broad understanding of the research problem, whereas the qualitative data sought to expand on the quantitative data by exploring the participants’ experiences in depth. Moreover, the collection of quantitative data provided a strong justification and phenomenological orientation for the second, qualitative, phase. The data from the two research phases were combined within a joint discussion to ensure a level of methodological complementarity and a more holistic understanding of the data captured. Trends from the first, quantitative, phase demonstrated that counselling ECPs differed across various domains from more senior generations. In the second, qualitative, phase, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the data revealed three Group Experiential Themes: i) Complexity of finding and securing work, ii) Navigating an array of personal, professional and systemic challenges, and iii) Support as self-acquired. Overall, the findings suggest that counselling ECPs in SA face a variety of challenges upon entering the workforce, enhanced support is thus needed for this new, more diverse cohort of practitioners. Actionable recommendations are offered at various levels. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
The effectiveness and feasibility of online prolonged exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress among university students
- Authors: Slabbert, Maryna
- Date: 2023-03-30
- Subjects: Exposure therapy , Post-traumatic stress disorder , College students South Africa , Prolonged exposure therapy , Online therapy
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408885 , vital:70534
- Description: Research has found that 70.6% of university students reported exposure to several traumatic events (Hoffman, 2002). Considering the high prevalence of trauma exposure among South African university students, many are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Iribarren, Prolo, Naegos & Chiappelli, 2005). Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is regarded as a first-line trauma therapy for PTSD (Foa, Hembree, Rothbaum, & Rauch, 2019). During the Covid-19 pandemic, public health guidelines for physical distancing reduced access to face-to-face mental health care. In response to this, many health care providers adapted to pandemic constraints by meeting their clients online, through Zoom, for example (Wells et al., 2020). Considering the prevalence of trauma exposure among university students, as well as the increased necessity of teletherapy, the study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of online PE for PTSD among university students in a South African setting. The study employed Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED) as basis for its research design. Participants included a sample of Rhodes University students (n = 3) who were recruited through purposive sampling. Prior to the intervention, all three participants met the criteria for PTSD, and comorbid depression. Based on the measures used, two of the three participants did not meet the criteria for PTSD post-intervention. In terms of depression symptoms, one participant did not meet the criteria for depression post-intervention, and another participant showed a decrease in depression symptoms. Regarding the feasibility of online PE, all three participants reported the intervention to be feasible, acceptable, and appropriate. Overall, the study provides preliminary results to support the effectiveness and feasibility of online PE. It also gives insight into the value of intervention research and how it can ameliorate PTSD in a South African setting, as well as other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-30