A randomized controlled trial assists individuals with complex trauma and dissociation in Finding Solid Ground.
Bethany L. Brand, Hygge J. Schielke, Karen Putnam, Nicholas A. Pierorazio, M. Shae Nester, Jerrica L. Robertson, Amie C. Myrick, Richard J. Loewenstein, Frank W. Putnam, Kathy Steele, Suzette Boon, Ruth A. Lanius
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: (FSG) psychoeducational program. METHOD: ). Outpatient therapists continued to provide psychotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive immediate access to FSG or be on a 6-month waitlist before accessing FSG. We did not exclude for suicidality, nonsuicidal self-injury, recent or concurrent hospitalization, or substance abuse. RESULTS: Although initially comparable on outcome measures, at 6 months into the study, the Immediate FSG group showed significant improvement in emotion regulation, PTSD symptoms, self-compassion, and adaptive capacities in comparison to the Waitlist group. At 12 months, the Immediate group showed large effect size changes in these areas compared to study entry (|g|s = 0.95-1.32). The Waitlist group showed comparable improvements after accessing the FSG program for 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized controlled trial demonstrates that adding FSG to psychotherapy of individuals with TRD results in improvements in emotion regulation, PTSD symptoms, self-compassion, and adaptive functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).