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Returning to the scene of the trauma in PTSD treatment – why, how and when?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2015

Hannah Murray ,
Christopher Merritt  and
Nick Grey
Hannah Murray*
Affiliation:
Traumatic Stress Service, South-West London and St Georges NHS Trust, London, UK
Christopher Merritt
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
Nick Grey
Affiliation:
Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
*
*Author for correspondence: Dr H. Murray, Traumatic Stress Service, South-West London and St Georges NHS Trust, London, UK (email: hannah.murray@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk).
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Abstract

Returning to the scene of the trauma is often recommended as part of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many clinicians avoid site visits due to lack of confidence or practical constraints; however, recent research suggests this is a valuable part of treatment. This article summarizes a rationale for including the site visit as part of cognitive therapy for PTSD, as well as the main considerations about when to carry it out in treatment. A practical framework for planning and implementing site visits is described.

Keywords

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)site visittraumatraumatic stress
Type
Practice article
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 8 , 2015 , e28
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2015 

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References

Recommended follow-up reading

Ehlers, A, Clark, DM, Hackmann, A, McManus, F, Fennell, M (2005). Cognitive therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: development and evaluation. Behaviour Research and Therapy 43, 413–431.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grey, N, McManus, F, Hackmann, A, Clark, DM, Ehlers, A (2009). Intensive cognitive therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: case studies. In: A Casebook of Cognitive Therapy for Traumatic Stress Reactions (ed. Grey, N.), pp. 111–130. Hove: Routledge.Google Scholar
Murray, H, Merritt, C, Grey, N (2015). Clients’ experiences of returning to the trauma site during PTSD treatment: an exploratory study. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy 43, 1–11.Google Scholar

References

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