| Researchers have observed that many individuals report positive changes in their lives subsequent to traumatic events, labeling this phenomenon posttraumatic growth (PTG). Research suggests that many trauma survivors experience PTG, but the impact of psychological interventions (including psychotherapy) on PTG is not well understood. Two meta-analyses were conducted to examine the effect of psychological interventions on PTG, one examining pre and post change following an intervention and the other comparing outcomes of active interventions vs. control groups. The main findings were the following: a) psychological interventions have a modest impact on PTG (PTG scores increased between one forth and one third of a standard deviation following an intervention) and b) certain variables, including criterion A traumatic event status and positive PTSD diagnosis, appear to influence PTG outcomes. Research and clinical implications are discussed. |
