This program is for adults who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of a single traumatic event.

Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP), a community-based program, is designed to decrease post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and help patients process a single traumatic event and the memories, thoughts, and feelings associated with that event.

Short-term results of several randomized trials conducted by program developers have indicated improvements in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, neurocognitive functioning, and post-traumatic growth in individuals receiving BEPP compared to those in control groups. One randomized trial was performed by a group of researchers who were independent of the program developers. Posttest results indicated improvements in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic growth in participants who completed BEPP compared to a wait-list group. At a 6-month follow-up, effects were maintained for PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression; however, about half of the gain in post-traumatic growth was lost, and effects were no longer significant.

BEPP consists of the following five elements:

• Session 1: PTSD psychoeducation – Learn about PTSD and briefly discuss one’s personal traumatic event;
• Sessions 2-6: Imaginal exposure and letter writing – Recall and re-tell the traumatic event as if it is happening in the present, and write a letter (not intended to be sent) to the individual or organization who is deemed to be held responsible for the traumatic event as a way to express anger;
• Session 7: Intermediate evaluation – Evaluate results of treatment, assess improvements and identify continuing challenges, and adjust treatment as needed;
• Sessions 8-15: Meaning and integration – Address any consequences of the traumatic event, lessons learned from the event, and how the event many have altered one’s perceptions of one’s self and the world; and
• Session 16: Relapse prevention plan and farewell ritual – Review lessons learned from therapy, discuss how to continue to use this new knowledge, and create a meaningful way to put the traumatic event in the past and move forward towards a positive future.

BEPP was developed in the Netherlands in the 1980s and 1990s for treating police officers with PTSD; however, the program has been used with a wide range of populations and in other countries since that time. The training manual is available in English, Dutch, Georgian, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, and Spanish. BEPP has been recommended as a treatment for PTSD in the Military Health System; however, the extent to which this program has been used with Service members is unknown.

BEPP is delivered by trained and licensed psychologists and psychiatrists. A 3-day, on-site or off-site training is available. Please visit https://www.traumabehandeling.net/en/bepp/training-and-supervision-bepp or use details in the Contact section to learn more.

Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting suitable therapists to deliver the program and ensuring they receive training, acquiring participant buy-in, realizing sensitive and difficult emotions may arise for participants, and finding space to hold sessions.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing BEPP, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you! Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu

BEPP consists of 16-weekly, 45- to 60-minute sessions.

Information on implementation costs was not located.

To move BEPP to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least two additional studies must be conducted that demonstrate sustained, positive effects lasting at least one year from the end of treatment or at least two years from the beginning of treatment. At least one of these studies must be conducted independently of program developers.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program. Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact National Psychotrauma Centrum by phone +31 20 8407 640, email info@arq.org, or visit https://www.traumabehandeling.net/en

https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/brief-eclectic-psychotherapy-for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder/detailed, https://www.traumabehandeling.net/en, https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/brief-eclectic-psychotherapy, https://www.traumabehandeling.net/en/news/international-brief-eclectic-psychotherapy-ptsd-bepp-integrative-trauma-treatment-two-day, and https://www.pdhealth.mil/sites/default/files/images/docs/Brief_Eclectic_Psychotherapy_for_PTSD_508.pdf

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