Empirical Status of One-Session Treatment

Abstract

One-session treatment (OST) is a massed, intensive exposure treatment that is maximized to a single 3-hour session. OST uniquely incorporates a variety of efficacious methods such as participant modeling, reinforcement, psychoeducation, and cognitive challenges during graduated exposure (Davis and Ollendick 2005; Davis et al, 2009; Ost 1997; Zlomke and Davis 2008). To address these points, various other chapters have covered the implementation of OST (see Chaps, 4-7 and 9) using the extant literature to describe the principles and administration of OST with a variety of different individuals. This chapter, however, will examine the literature to determine the evidence base behind the use of OST, and its current evidentiary standing will be evaluated and updated (see Davis et al, 2011; Davis and Ollendick 2005; and Zlomke and Davis 2008 for previous reviews). The most detailed review of OST to date, by Zlomke and Davis (2008), summarized the literature and concluded that approximately 85-90% of individuals receiving OST benefited significantly from the treatment and that it met empirically supported treatment criteria for a probably efficacious intervention at that time. In the years since Zlomke and Davis, however, a number of other studies have added to the evidence base for OST making a new, updated review timely. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)