Abstract:
Delivering trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy to patients with PTSD during the
COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges. The therapist cannot meet with the patient in person
to guide them through trauma-focused work and other treatment components, and
patients are restricted in carrying out treatment-related activities and behavioural experiments that involve contact with other people. Whilst online trauma-focused CBT treatments
for PTSD have been developed, which overcome some of these barriers in that they can be
delivered remotely, they are not yet routinely available in clinical services in countries, such
as the UK. Cognitive therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD) is a trauma-focused cognitive behavioural
therapy that is acceptable to patients, leads to high rates of recovery and is recommended
as a first-line treatment for the disorder by international clinical practice guidelines. Here we
describe how to deliver CT-PTSD remotely so that patients presenting with PTSD during the
COVID-19 pandemic can still benefit from this evidence-based treatment.