Abstrakti, Digital Treatment for Complex PTSD: Experiences, Challenges, and Future Directions

Digital Treatment for Complex PTSD: Experiences, Challenges, and Future Directions

Maria Bragesjö

Digital interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have become an increasingly important complement to traditional face-to-face therapy, offering promising opportunities to expand access to evidence-based care. However, much of the existing research has focused on individuals with mild to moderate PTSD, often excluding those with more severe or complex presentations, including histories of childhood trauma. Early recommendations, such as those from the NICE guidelines, have similarly cautioned against digital treatment for more severe cases—highlighting a critical gap in the evidence base.

In this presentation, I will share recent findings from our feasibility study and ongoing large-scale randomized controlled trial (N=286) evaluating HOPE—an internet-delivered, therapist-guided prolonged exposure therapy where we do not exclude patients based on PTSD symptom severity.

Drawing on our clinical and research experiences, I will discuss outcomes related to symptom reduction, treatment adherence, safety and patient satisfaction. Particular attention will be paid to the role of therapist support.  

This talk will explore both the potential and the limitations of digital treatments including patients with severe PTSD, emphasizing practical considerations for implementation in routine care. Finally, future directions for research and development will be outlined.