| Methods |
Randomised controlled trial |
| Participants |
24 male Vietnam War veterans with DSM‐IIIR PTSD in the USA |
| Interventions |
14 ‐ 16 sessions implosive (flooding) (n = 11) versus waiting list control (n = 13) |
| Outcomes |
PTSD subscale, BDI, STAI |
| Notes |
Experienced therapists delivered therapy. It is unclear whether or not 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 |
Unclear risk |
There is emphasis in the reporting on those scales where improvements were evident. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
Comment: Only the data of completers are included in the analysis. One participant dropped out of each group. |
| Other bias |
High risk |
Comment: Small sample size. Poor reporting of baseline characteristics. Unclear whether or not treatment adherence was measured. |
| 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 |
High risk |
Quote: "therapists rated their own patients progress following treatment." |
