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Three Part Question

[In patients presenting with symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder following a motor vehicle accident] is [cognitive behaviour therapy better than simple advice] at [decreasing symptoms and allowing a return to pre-accident activities]

Clinical Scenario

A patient presents to their general practitioner 3 months following a minor rear end collision. They were stopped at the traffic lights when a lorry collided with the rear of the car. The car boot was pushed in and the patient was initally treated as a simple neck sprain. Although she has had some resolution of her symptoms she remains fearful of the long term prognosis and still complains of shooting pains at the back of the neck. She has been unable to return to work. She has not driven since the accident and has only managed a few trips as a passenger when she desribed being terrified of a more serious accident occuring. You conclude that she has features of post traumatic stress disorder and wonder if she would benefit from cognitive behaviour therapy.

Search Strategy

Medline 1966-October 2004 on OVID interface
EMBASE 1985-2004 on OVID interface
Cinahl 1985-2004 on OVID interface
Cochrane via NeLH