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Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Presented by Barbara O. Rothbaum PhD

Presenter Bio

Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, PhD is Director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program. She is a professor and Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research at Emory School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program and holds the Paul A. Janssen Chair in Neuropsychopharmcology. She specializes in research on the treatment of anxiety disorders, particularly PTSD. She was a member of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Study on Assessment of Ongoing Efforts in the Treatment of PTSD, and briefed the DOD, VA, House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs and Armed Services Committees on the IOM report results.

Dr. Rothbaum has been studying PTSD treatments since 1986, served on the DSM-IV PTSD subcommittee, and has developed, tested, and disseminated some of the most innovative and effective treatments available for PTSD. She is an inventor of virtual reality exposure therapy. She was a pioneer in applying it in the treatment of PTSD in combat veterans. She has authored over 400 scientific papers and chapters, has published 11 books on the treatment of PTSD and edited 4 others on anxiety, and received the Diplomate in Behavioral Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is a past president of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), is currently on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), the Expert Scientific Panel for the National Center for PTSD (NC-PTSD), and the executive committee of the Warrior Care Network. She is currently a member on the Trichotillomania Learning Center Board of Directors, Warrior Wellness Alliance, and the Wounded Warrior Program’s Warrior Care Network’s: Executive Committee, Data and Outcomes Committee and the Clinical Practices Committee. She is a fellow of the ACNP (American College of Neuropsychopharmacology), the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and American Psychological Association’s Division 56 (Division of Trauma Psychology) and was awarded the 2010 “Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Practice of Trauma Psychology” for APA Division 56 and the Robert S. Laufer Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). Dr. Rothbaum received the 2021 ISTSS the Lifetime Achievement Award. Her recent book is on PTSD for the general public: PTSD: What Everyone Needs to Know

Unfortunately, we live in a dangerous world, and estimates are that 70% of us will experience a potentially traumatic event. All mental health providers need to know how to help their client’s overcome trauma. Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder will be described and data on its efficacy will be reviewed. The signs and symptoms and associated features and comorbidities of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be discussed. The pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy and combination pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatments for PTSD literatures will be succinctly reviewed and discussed, focusing on cognitive behavioral treatments (CBT), and the various CBT techniques will be briefly described, including virtual reality exposure therapy. Innovations in the treatment of PTSD, including medium of delivery, novel combination treatment, and early interventions will be presented. An intensive outpatient treatment model and pilot data will be presented. The majority of the workshop will be spent describing Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD, including videotapes for demonstration.

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the basics of Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and its efficacy with PTSD and comorbidities such as mood disorders.
  2. Describe the various treatments for PTSD, including the description and rational for treatment as well as available data on its efficacy. Interventions will include pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Specific CBT techniques to be covered include prolonged exposure and virtual reality exposure therapy.

Instructional Level

Intermediate

Licensed mental health professionals employed through Kaiser Permanente and psychological assistants performing under supervision of a licensed psychologist.

This CE program is free to Kaiser Permanente employees.
Instructional Methodology
Lecture
Audio/Visual
On-line Presentation

Continuing Education Information

Kaiser Permanente Northern California Mental Health Training Program is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Mental Health Training Program maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Refund and Attendance Policy

All programs offered on KP Learn for CE credit through the KP Northern California Mental Health Training website are free of charge to Kaiser Permanente Staff and trainees. Once a course is selected in the KP NCAL MH Training Website, the registration process begins, and it will appear in the individuals KP Learn profile for completion within 90 days.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Those who attend the program in full and complete the appropriate evaluation form will receive CE credits. Please note that credit will only be granted to those who attend the entire program. An attestation of attendance will be given once the individual has completed viewing the program, which will then initiate the final steps of completing the evaluation forms to receive a certificate of completion.

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