TY - JOUR
T1 - Online Trauma Psychoeducation for Adults with PTSD Symptoms
T2 - A Randomized Controlled Trial
AU - Fung, Hong Wang
AU - Chau, Anson Kai Chun
AU - Cheung, Cherry Tin Yan
AU - Huang, Chak Hei Ocean
AU - Po, Bonnie Shuk Kwan
AU - Ross, Colin A.
AU - Olff, Miranda
AU - Wang, Edward K. S.
AU - Wong, Janet Yuen Ha
AU - Lam, Stanley Kam Ki
AU - Ho, Grace Wing Ka
N1 - Funding information:
This work was supported by the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme 2022/2023 from the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong, which was provided for the first author.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2025/10/10
Y1 - 2025/10/10
N2 - This trial evaluated whether an online trauma psychoeducation program was beneficial to people with PTSD symptoms. A total of 165 Hong Kong adults who endorsed at least one PTSD symptom were randomly assigned to the intervention group (two-month online trauma psychoeducation) (n = 83) or the active control group (n = 82). At baseline, most participants met the ICD-11 criteria for probable PTSD (7.9%) or complex PTSD (61.8%); 43.6% exhibited dissociative symptoms. The retention rate was high at posttest (70.0%) and follow-up (71.0%). Most participants in the intervention group were satisfied with the program. Both groups had significant improvements in symptom management, mental health self-stigma, post-traumatic maladaptive beliefs, PTSD symptoms, disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptoms, self-esteem, and perceived knowledge in trauma and PTSD. Mixed effects models indicated that the intervention group had significantly greater improvements in PTSD symptoms, self-esteem, and perceived knowledge in trauma and PTSD, but not in other variables. In terms of reliable change, from baseline to follow-up, the intervention group exhibited a lower rate of deterioration (1.8% vs 8.3%) and a higher rate of improvement (47.4% vs 35.0%) than the control group, but the difference was not significant (p = .154). The online trauma psychoeducation program was well-accepted by the participants and was associated with decreases in PTSD symptoms and improvements in self-esteem and perceived knowledge in PTSD. Health and social service providers can utilize this low-cost early intervention program to provide timely support for clients with PTSD symptoms, especially before specialized trauma treatments are available. Trial registration: The trial was pre-registered at chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2300075213).
AB - This trial evaluated whether an online trauma psychoeducation program was beneficial to people with PTSD symptoms. A total of 165 Hong Kong adults who endorsed at least one PTSD symptom were randomly assigned to the intervention group (two-month online trauma psychoeducation) (n = 83) or the active control group (n = 82). At baseline, most participants met the ICD-11 criteria for probable PTSD (7.9%) or complex PTSD (61.8%); 43.6% exhibited dissociative symptoms. The retention rate was high at posttest (70.0%) and follow-up (71.0%). Most participants in the intervention group were satisfied with the program. Both groups had significant improvements in symptom management, mental health self-stigma, post-traumatic maladaptive beliefs, PTSD symptoms, disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptoms, self-esteem, and perceived knowledge in trauma and PTSD. Mixed effects models indicated that the intervention group had significantly greater improvements in PTSD symptoms, self-esteem, and perceived knowledge in trauma and PTSD, but not in other variables. In terms of reliable change, from baseline to follow-up, the intervention group exhibited a lower rate of deterioration (1.8% vs 8.3%) and a higher rate of improvement (47.4% vs 35.0%) than the control group, but the difference was not significant (p = .154). The online trauma psychoeducation program was well-accepted by the participants and was associated with decreases in PTSD symptoms and improvements in self-esteem and perceived knowledge in PTSD. Health and social service providers can utilize this low-cost early intervention program to provide timely support for clients with PTSD symptoms, especially before specialized trauma treatments are available. Trial registration: The trial was pre-registered at chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2300075213).
KW - dissociation
KW - online interventions
KW - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
KW - psychoeducation
KW - trauma
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018830259
U2 - 10.1080/15325024.2025.2570246
DO - 10.1080/15325024.2025.2570246
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:105018830259
SN - 1532-5024
JO - Journal of Loss and Trauma
JF - Journal of Loss and Trauma
ER -
