Publication
Title
Clinician treatment choices for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) : ambassadors survey of psychiatrists in 39 European countries
Author
Abstract
Background Considering the recently growing number of potentially traumatic events in Europe, the European Psychiatric Association undertook a study to investigate clinicians' treatment choices for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods The case-based analysis included 611 participants, who correctly classified the vignette as a case of PTSD, from Central/ Eastern Europe (CEE) (n = 279), Southern Europe (SE) (n = 92), Northern Europe (NE) (n = 92), and Western Europe (WE) (N = 148).Results About 82% woulduse antidepressants (sertraline being the most preferred one). Benzodiazepines and antipsychotics were significantly more frequently recommended by participants from CEE (33 and 4%, respectively), compared to participants from NE (11 and 0%) and SE (9% and 3%). About 52% of clinicians recommended trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy and 35% psychoeducation, irrespective of their origin. In the latent class analysis, we identified four distinct "profiles" of clinicians. In Class 1 (N = 367), psychiatrists would less often recommend any antidepressants. In Class 2 (N = 51), clinicians would recommend trazodone and prolonged exposure therapy. In Class 3 (N = 65), they propose mirtazapine and eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy. In Class 4 (N = 128), clinicians propose different types of medications and cognitive processing therapy. About 50.1% of participants in each region stated they do not adhere to recognized treatment guidelines.Conclusions Clinicians' decisions for PTSD are broadly similar among European psychiatrists, but regional differences suggest the need for more dialogue and education to harmonize practice across Europe and promote the use of guidelines.
Language
English
Source (journal)
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists. - Paris, 1991, currens
Publication
Paris : Elsevier , 2024
ISSN
0924-9338 [print]
1778-3585 [online]
DOI
10.1192/J.EURPSY.2024.19
Volume/pages
67 :1 (2024) , p. 1-11
Article Reference
e24
ISI
001192466300001
Pubmed ID
38450651
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
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Creation 13.03.2024
Last edited 10.06.2024
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