Thirty-eight RCTs (total number of participants was unclear) were included in the review.
Trauma-focused CBT versus waiting list or usual care (15 studies, n=763): persistence of PTSD diagnosis was significantly lower in the groups treated with trauma-focused CBT (RR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.57).
EMDR versus waiting list or usual care (6 studies, n=217): persistence of PTSD diagnosis was significantly lower in the groups treated with EMDR (RR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.86).
Stress management versus waiting list or usual care (4 studies, n=121): persistence of PTSD diagnosis was significantly lower in the groups treated with stress management (RR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.87).
Trauma-focused CBT versus stress management (6 studies, n=284): persistence of PTSD diagnosis was significantly lower in the groups treated with trauma-focused CBT (RR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.99).
Trauma-focused CBT versus other therapies (5 studies, n=286): persistence of PTSD diagnosis was significantly lower in the groups treated with trauma-focused CBT (RR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.89).
EMDR versus other therapies (1 study, n=67): persistence of PTSD diagnosis was significantly lower in the group treated with EMDR (RR 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.84).
There was no statistically significant difference between therapies in the following comparisons: other therapies versus waiting list; group CBT versus waiting list; EMDR versus trauma-focused CBT; EMDR versus stress management; stress management versus other therapies; group trauma-focused CBT versus group CBT.
Results were also reported for clinician-rated and self-rated PTSD symptoms, and for depression and anxiety. None of the studies reported tolerability.