Hospital Practices and Research

Abstract Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects women at approximately twice the rate of men, often leading to complex symptoms like alexithymia and experiential avoidance.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) on decreasing alexithymia and experiential avoidance in women with PTSD.
Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study conducted in 2024. The statistical population included all women aged 18 to 40 with PTSD referred to counseling centers and psychological clinics in Tehran. A convenience sample of 90 eligible participants was selected and randomly assigned to a WET group (n = 30), a CPT group (n = 30), and a control group (n = 30). The WET group received five sessions, while the CPT group received 12 sessions. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA.
Results: Both WET and CPT interventions were effective, leading to significant reductions in alexithymia (F = 68.42, P<0.001, η²p = 0.44) and experiential avoidance (F = 59.87, P<0.001, η²p = 0.41) at post-test and three-month follow-up. The findings showed that WET was more effective than CPT in decreasing alexithymia (mean reduction: 16.6 vs. 14.2 points), whereas CPT had a greater effect on reducing experiential avoidance (mean reduction: 12.6 vs. 16.6 points) (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Both therapies significantly reduce alexithymia and experiential avoidance, with WET showing greater efficacy for alexithymia and CPT for experiential avoidance, sustained at three-month follow-up. These findings inform clinicians in selecting targeted interventions based on patients’ predominant symptoms, enhancing personalized treatment for women with PTSD.