Brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP)

Brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP) is a trauma-focused treatment which has shown to be equally effective for the treatment of PTSD as CBT/PE and EMDR. It is the treatment of choice if there is need for not only decreasing anxiety but also for learning from the traumatic how it has changed one's life and view on the world. It has been developed as a 16-session treatment manual for PTSD when CBT and EMDR were not available (http://www.traumatreatment.eu/). BEPP consists of (1) psychoeducation, together with a partner or close friend; (2) imaginal exposure preceded by relaxation exercises, focused on catharsis of emotions of grief and helplessness; (3) writing tasks to express aggressive feelings and use of mementos; (4) domain of meaning, focused on learning from the trauma, oneself and the world; (5) farewell ritual, to end treatment. The BEPP -protocol in RCT 's has proofed to be effective. Also psychobiological recovery has been demonstrated. In the Workshop the different elements of BEPP will be outlined and trained, also with DVD. Similarities and differences with CBT and EMDR will be presented. To summarize, CBT, EMDR and BEPP are equal effective in reducing PTSD by different forms of exposure. BEPP also offers essential learning from the traumatizing events based on psychodynamic insights and stimulates posttraumatic growth. Cases of participants will be discussed.

Conference

English

Berthold Gersons

Gersons, B. (2011, June). Brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP). Pre-conference presentation at the 12th European Conference on Traumatic Stress (ECOTS), Vienna, Austria