Table 3.
Number of primary studies represented in each category
| Domain, category and sub-category | Frequency | Studies represented |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Overcoming ambivalence towards TFT | 8/9 | a, b, c, d, e, f, h, i |
| 1.1 Concerns about engaging in TFT | 5/9 | a, b, d, f, h |
| Fear of facing trauma | 4/9 | a, b, d, h |
| Scepticism about TFT’s effectiveness | 4/9 | a, b, f, h |
| 1.2 Desperation and hope facilitated engagement | 5/9 | a, b, c, e, g, i |
| Social support | 2/9 | a, c, |
| Desperation | 4/9 | a, b, c, e |
| Determination and hope | 5/9 | a, b, e, g, i |
| Understanding and believing treatment rationale | 4/9 | a, b, g, i |
| Being in a good place in life | 1/9 | a |
| 1.3 The therapist’s role | 6/9 | a, b, c, d, f, h, i |
| Collaborative process | 2/9 | c, i |
| Trusting the therapist | 4/9 | a, b, d, h |
| Pushed and respected | 5/9 | a, b, c, d, i |
| Empathy and authenticity | 5/9 | a, b, c, f, i, |
| 2. Experience of treatment elements | 9/9 | a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i |
| 2.1 General experience of treatment | 7/9 | a, b, c, e, f, h, i |
| Valued affective modulation strategies | 6/9 | a, c, f, g, h, i |
| Valued cognitive techniques | 5/9 | c, e, f, h, i |
| Psychoeducation created a sense of control | 5/9 | a, b, c, e, i |
| Length of therapy | 2/9 | f, g |
| 2.2 Ambivalence and disagreement about trauma-focused elements | 9/9 | a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i |
| Harder than expected | 2/7 | a, h |
| Unfounded fears | 4/9 | a, d, e, i |
| Difficulty tolerating trauma work | 9/9 | a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i |
| Importance of hardship | 7/9 | a, b, c, e, g, h, i |
| Life consuming | 3/9 | a, h, i |
| Habituation | 5/9 | c, d, e, h, i |
| Piecing together traumatic experiences | 3/9 | d, e, g |
| Wanting less repetition | 1/9 | h |
| 2.3 Experience with homework | 3/9 | c, e, h |
| Helped generalise learning | 2/9 | c, e |
| Difficult to complete | 2/9 | e, h |
| 3. Motivation for dropout or retention | 7/9 | a, b, c, d, e, f, h, i |
| 3.1 Reasons for considering dropping out | 5/7 | a, b, e, f, h |
| Concerns about the timeframe and future | 2/9 | a, h |
| Ambivalence about treatment | 4/9 | b, e, f, h |
| Stigma | 1/9 | b |
| External barriers | 3/9 | e, f, h |
| 3.2 Factors contributing to retention | 4/9 | b, c, d, e, h, i |
| Seeing progress | 2/9 | b, e, |
| Encouragement from family and friends | 3/9 | d, e, i |
| Therapist support | 5/9 | b, c, e, h, i |
| Commitment | 1/9 | e |
| Wanting to believe in treatment | 3/9 | b, e, i |
| 3.3 Reasons for dropout | 3/9 | f, h, i |
| External barriers | 3/9 | f, h, i |
| Therapy related difficulties | 3/9 | f, h, i |
| Therapeutic alliance issues | 1/9 | f |
| Lack of social support | 1/9 | i |
| 4. Perceived changes post-treatment | 9/9 | a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i |
| 4.1 Perceived symptom changes | 6/9 | a, b, c, e, f, h, |
| Reduced symptoms | 6/9 | a, b, c, e, f, h |
| Symptom exacerbation | 3/9 | e, f, h |
| Persistent symptoms | 4/9 | b, c, e, h |
| 4.2 Changed beliefs | 8/9 | a, b, c, d, e, g, h, i |
| Changed beliefs about trauma | 6/9 | a, b, d, e, g, h |
| Changed beliefs about self | 7/9 | a, b, c, e, g, h, i |
| Changed beliefs about the future | 8/9 | a, b, c, d, e, g, h, i |
| 4.3 Better functioning | 5/9 | a, c, e, f, i |
Frequency represents how many of the studies were represented in each domain, category, and sub-category. Studies represented in each category were coded by a letter a-i: Shearing et al. [53*] = a; Vincent et al. [54*] = b; Lowe and Murray [55*] = c; Murray et al. [56*] = d; Hundt et al. [57*] = e; Hundt et al. [58*] = f, Boterhoven de Haan et al. [59*] = g; Doran et al. [60*] = h; Eastwood et al. [38*] = i