Bridging the gap between posttraumatic stress disorder research and clinical practice: The example of exposure therapy

Abstract

There are notable challenges in translating empirically supported psychosocial treatments (ESTs) into general routine clinical practice. However, there may be additional unique dissemination and implementation obstacles for ESTs for trauma-related disorders. For example, despite considerable evidence from randomized clinical trials that attests to the efficacy of exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder, front-line clinicians in real-world settings rarely use this treatment. Perceived and actual barriers that interfere with adoption include clinician misconceptions about what exposure entails and complex cases to which ESTs may not be readily applicable. Specific suggestions for bridging the science-into-service gap in trauma ESTs (in general) and in exposure therapy (in particular) are proposed.