Anxiety Reduction Treatment for Acute Trauma

This study is a randomized controlled trial to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief Anxiety Reduction Treatment for Acute Trauma (ARTAT) with adults (over age 18) showing signs of peritraumatic anxiety in the Emergency Department of Bellevue Hospital, New York in the hours following a psychologically traumatic event. Thirty-six participants will be enrolled over a 12-month period: 18 receiving ARTAT and 18 receiving Treatment As Usual (TAU). The study will target anxious arousal in patients immediately (1 to 8 hours) following a trauma. Participants will be recruited from among patients who present in the Emergency Department at Bellevue Hospital for treatment of an injury sustained in a traumatic event (accident, assault) as long as injuries do not preclude participation. Participants included in the study will have experienced a trauma within 8 hours and presenting with signs of a strong risk factor for PTSD: peritraumatic panic (severe psychological and physiological anxiety symptoms such as fear of dying, fear of losing emotional control, tachycardia, sweating, shaking and dissociation symptoms such as derealisation and depersonalization that occur during and immediately following a trauma. Following the initial assessment, eligible participants will be randomized to receive the one-hour anxiety-reduction intervention designed to reduce anxiety and panic symptoms through education and anxiety y management skills or TAU. The clinician administered and self-report assessments will be conducted at screening, baseline, post-treatment, weekly, and at a one-month and three-month follow-up.