Foa 1991.
Methods | Randomised controlled trial | |
Participants | 55 female rape victims in the USA. All DSM‐IIIR PTSD | |
Interventions | 9 1½‐hour sessions of prolonged exposure (n = 14) vs stress inoculation training (n = 17) vs supportive counselling (n = 14) vs waiting list (n = 10) control (all interventions included in meta‐analyses). | |
Outcomes | PTSD severity, BDI, STAI | |
Notes | Experienced therapists delivered therapy and treatment adherence was assessed. | |
Risk of bias | ||
Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Comment: The method of sequence generation was not reported. |
Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Comment: There is no mention of any measures taken to conceal allocation. |
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | High risk | Quote: "Subsequent analyses were conducted on data from the 45 completers." Comment: 10 participants dropped out of treatment (prolonged exposure (4) vs stress inoculation training (3) vs supportive counselling (3) vs waiting list control (0)). No reasons reported for drop‐outs. |
Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | Comment: All specified outcomes were reported. |
Other bias | Low risk | Comment: There were no other obvious sources of bias. |
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | Comment: Participants were aware of their allocation. |
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Quote: "Assessments at pre‐treatment, posttreatment, and follow‐up consisted of clinical interviews conducted by an independent assessor, who was blind to treatment conditions, and self report questionnaires" |