Gersons, B. P. R., Carlier, I. V. E., Lamberts, R. D., & van der Kolk, B. A., (2000). A randomized clinical trial of Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy in police officers with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 13(2), 333–347. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007793803627

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 42

Population:

• Age — 35–38 years
• Race/Ethnicity — 100% Dutch
• Gender — 37 Male and 5 Female
• Status — Participants were police officers with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Location/Institution: Department of Psychiatry at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to report on the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), using Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) [now called Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP)]. Participants were randomly assigned to either BEP or to a waitlist control. Measures utilized include the Dutch version of the Structured Interview for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (SI-PTSD) which operationalized DSM-III-R criteria for PTSD, the Symptom Checklist (SCL), and the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule—Revised. Results indicate that no significant differences between groups were observed at pretest or at session 4. At posttest and at follow-up, BEP had produced significant improvement in PTSD, in work resumption, and in some comorbid conditions. Limitations include small sample size, absence of more objective measures of the treatment, lack of ability to generalize to other populations due to ethnicity and selectivity of group, and lack of long-term follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 3 months.

Lindauer, R. J. L., Gersons, B. P. R., van Meijel, E. P. M., Blom, K., Carlier, I. V. E., Vrijlandt, I., & Olff, M. (2005). Effects of Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: Randomized clinical trial. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18(3), 205–212. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20029

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 24

Population:

• Age — 37–40 years
• Race/Ethnicity — 100% Dutch
• Gender — 13 Female and 11 Male
• Status — Participants were individuals in outpatient treatment center with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Location/Institution: Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to asses the effects of Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) [now called Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP)] in a traumatized population other than police officers and in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subjects who experienced a wide range of traumas instead of specific traumas such as warfare or sexual abuse. Participants were randomly assigned to BEP or a waitlist group. Measures utilized include the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the List of Traumatic Events and the Police Life Event Scale (PLES), the Structured Interview for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (SI-PTSD), the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), and the Dissociation Experiences Scale (DES). Results indicate that no significant differences between the groups were observed at pretest. By posttest, BEP had significantly reduced PTSD as well as general anxiety symptoms in the treated group of outpatients as compared to the waitlist group. Limitations include the small sample size, extensive exclusion criteria which may limit the generalizability of the findings, and the lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Lindauer, R. J. L, Vlieger, E. J., Jalink, M., Olff, M., Carlier, I. V. E., Majoie, C. B. M. L., Den Heeten, G. J., & Gersons, B. P. R. (2005). Effects of psychotherapy on hippocampal volume in out-patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: A MRI investigation. Psychological Medicine, 35(10), 1421–1431. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291705005246

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 32

Population:

• Age — 36-39 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
• Gender — 16 Male and 16 Female
• Status — Participants were civilian patients with DSM-IV current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Location/Institution: Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to compare the hippocampal volumes of outpatients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who had low co-morbidity rates to those of trauma-exposed control subjects without PTSD, and measures hippocampal volume changes in these patients after Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) [now called Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP)]. Participants were randomly assigned to BEP or a waitlist group. Measures utilized include the List of Traumatic Events and the Police Life Event Scale (PLES), Structured Interview for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (SI-PTSD), the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), and a background questionnaire was also performed to collect information about education and relatives with psychiatric problems. Results indicate that PTSD patients had significantly smaller hippocampal volumes at baseline compared to the control subjects. After effective psychotherapy, however, no volume changes were found in the smaller hippocampi, even though symptoms had resolved. Limitations include small sample size and lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Lindauer, R. T. L., van Meijel, E. P. M., Jalink, M., Olff, M., Carlier, I. V. E., & Gersons, B. P. R. (2006). Heart rate responsivity to script-driven imagery in posttraumatic stress disorder: Specificity of response and effects of psychotherapy. Psychosomatic Medicine, 68(1), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000188566.35902.e7

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 54

Population:

• Age — 36-38 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
• Gender — 29 Male and 25 Female
• Status — Participants were police officers and civilians with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Location/Institution: Department of Psychiatry at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to investigate psycho-physiological responses in two new populations while excluding confounding influences and assessing the effects of the intervention [now called Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP)] on such responses. The civilians were randomly assigned to treatment or waitlist groups. Measures utilized include the Structured Interview for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (SI-PTSD), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), List of Traumatic Events and the Police Life Event Scale (PLES), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results indicate that both civilians and police with PTSD showed significantly higher HR responses to trauma scripts than the control subjects. After successful psychotherapy with the civilians, HR responsivity to the trauma scripts was significantly reduced, and it correlated positively with PTSD clinical symptoms. Limitations include small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 4 months.

Schnyder, U., Müller, J., Maercker, A., & Wittmann, L. (2011). Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 72(4), 564–566. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.10l06247blu

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 30

Population:

• Age — Mean=39.5 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
• Gender — 53% Male
• Status — Participants were adult treatment-seeking posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients.

Location/Institution: Not specified

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to report on the efficacy of Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) [now called Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP)] in a sample of patients suffering from chronic PTSD who had experienced a variety of traumatic events. Participants were randomly assigned to either BEP or to a minimal attention control group. Measures utilized include the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV (the SCID I and SCID II), the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PGI). Results indicate that controlling for the respective outcome variable’s baseline score, baseline depression, and lifetime traumatic events revealed significant group effects for all outcome variables, patients who had received BEP experienced significantly greater improvements in CAPS, HADS anxiety and HADS depression scores and stronger posttraumatic growth than the control group. Limitations include small sample size, BEP was not compared to an empirically supported therapy for PTSD, BEP patients received more therapist attention than the control group, and length of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6 months (BEP group only).

Nijdam, M. J., Gersons, B. P. R., Reitsma, J. B., de Jongh, A., & Olff, M. (2012). Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy versus Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(3), 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.099234

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 140

Population:

• Age — 37-38 years
• Race/Ethnicity — 73 Dutch, 27 Other, 18 Surinamese, 13 Turkish, and 9 Moroccan
• Gender — 79 Female
• Status — Participants were civilian trauma survivors.

Location/Institution: Center for Psychological Trauma at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam.

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy and response pattern of Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP), with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). Participants were randomly assigned to BEPP or EMDR. Measures utilized include the Dutch Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Structured Interview for PTSD (SI-PTSD), the Dutch version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results indicate that both treatments were equally effective in reducing PTSD symptom severity, but the response pattern indicated that EMDR led to a significantly sharper decline in PTSD symptoms than BEPP, with similar drop-out rates. Limitations include high attrition rates, differences in the number of BEPP exposure sessions, and use of other concurrent treatments.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None for BEPP group, approximately 10 weeks for EMDR group.

Nijdam, M. J., Baas, M. A. M., Olff, M., & Gersons, B. P. R. (2013). Hotspots in trauma memories and their relationship to successful trauma-focused psychotherapy: A pilot study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(1), 38–44. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21771

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 20

Population:

• Age — 36-39 years
• Race/Ethnicity — 15 Dutch, 2 Indonesian, 1 Aruban, 1 Bosnian, and 1 Surinamese
• Gender — 12 Female
• Status — Participants were adult treatment-seeking posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients.

Location/Institution: Center for Psychological Trauma at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam.

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used a subset of the same sample as Nijdam et al. (2012). The purpose of the study was to investigate whether differences in the focus on hotspots differentiates between successful and unsuccessful trauma-focused psychotherapies. Participants were randomly assigned to Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). Measures utilized include the Dutch Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Hotspots Manual. Results indicate that in successful treatments, hotspots were more frequently addressed, and they were accompanied by more characteristics of hotspots, such as an audible change in affect, indicating medium- to large-sized effects. Limitations include small sample size, treatment dropouts were not included in the study, and the use of audio recordings instead of video recordings, which may have affected the identification of hotspot characteristics, such as a patient dissociating, blushing, or sweating.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.