%0 Journal Article
%@ 2368-7959
%I JMIR Publications
%V 3
%N 2
%P e27
%T Computer-Assisted In Sensu Exposure for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Development and Evaluation
%A Görg,Nora
%A Priebe,Kathlen
%A Deuschel,Tilman
%A Schüller,Martin
%A Schriner,Friederike
%A Kleindienst,Nikolaus
%A Ludäscher,Petra
%A Schmahl,Christian
%A Bohus,Martin
%+ Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J5, Mannheim, D-68167, Germany, 49 621 1703 ext 4412, nora.goerg@zi-mannheim.de
%K dissociative disorders
%K  behavior therapy
%K posttraumatic stress disorder
%K technology
%D 2016
%7 08.06.2016
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Ment Health
%G English
%X Background: Dissociative states during psychotherapy sessions reduce the benefit of exposure-based therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thus, in evidence-based therapeutic programs such as dialectical behavior therapy for PTSD (DBT-PTSD), therapists apply specific antidissociative skills to reduce dissociative features during in sensu exposure. In addition to therapist-guided sessions, exposure protocols often require that the patients listen to audio recordings of exposure sessions in self-management. The problem of how to prevent dissociative features during such self-administered exposure exercises has not been resolved yet. Hence, we developed the computer program MORPHEUS that supports the application of self-administered exposure exercises. MORPHEUS continuously monitors the level of dissociative states and offers state-related antidissociative skills. Objective: This study sought to examine the acceptance and feasibility of the MORPHEUS program. Methods: Patients who underwent 12 weeks of residential DBT-PTSD treatment used MORPHEUS during exposure exercises in self-management. After the treatment, they filled out evaluation questionnaires. Results: In sum, 26 patients receiving a 12-week standard DBT-PTSD program participated in this study; 2 participants could not be analyzed because of missing data. All the patients used MORPHEUS as often as it was required according to the DBT-PTSD treatment (2 to 5 times a week). The overall acceptance and feasibility as rated by the patients was high: for example, patients found the skills useful to block dissociation (mean 4.24 on a scale from 0 to 5, SD 0.24) and stated that they would use the program again (mean 4.72 on a scale from 0 to 5, SD 0.11). Furthermore, patients indicated that they would recommend MORPHEUS to a friend (mean 4.44 on a scale from 0 to 5, SD 0.12). In 82% (32/39) of the cases, the use of antidissociative skills was related to a decrease in dissociation. In 18% (5/39), dissociation remained unchanged or increased. Conclusions: The evaluative data suggest high acceptability and feasibility of MORPHEUS. Further studies should evaluate the effectiveness of the skills applied during the program. Trial Registration: World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform: DRKS00006226; http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/Trial2.aspx?TrialID= DRKS00006226 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/ 6hxuFbIUr) 
%M 27277899
%R 10.2196/mental.5697
%U http://mental.jmir.org/2016/2/e27/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.5697
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27277899