Feasibility of online prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD among university students: a case-series design

In the context of Covid-19, and within low-resourced countries such as South Africa, research is sparse on the effectiveness and feasibility of online prolonged exposure therapy (PE) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using Zoom, we investigated the effectiveness and feasibility of online PE for PTSD. Using a case-series design, three students with PTSD and comorbid depression received PE. They were assessed pre-and-post using the PTSD Symptom Scale Interview for DSM-5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 was completed before each session to track PTSD symptoms. Participants had improved symptoms of PTSD, and a similar trend in reduction was observed across the treatment sessions. Severe comorbid depression resulted in poorer outcomes for one participant. All three participants reported that online PE was a feasible treatment method for PTSD. Teletherapy has the potential to make effective therapies such as PE more accessible to university-going students.