Repairing Attachment Insecurities with God and PTSD Symptomology in Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma: An Exploratory Study Using Spiritually Integrated Cognitive Processing Therapy (SICPT).

Résumé

Childhood trauma occurs when an individual under the age of 18 survives or witnesses a life-threatening event that surpasses one's ability to cope. To circumvent future danger, numerous developmental changes occur in response to fear, manifesting in a multitude of symptoms that can culminate in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This debilitating condition arises from the brain and body's heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli, including interpersonal interactions, which affect attachment styles with others and with God. Research has indicated that high levels of self-reported spiritual strength are associated with increased feelings of safety and resilience; however, spirituality is seldom included in the treatment of PTSD. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a leading therapeutic treatment for PTSD, while Spiritually Integrated Cognitive Processing Therapy (SICPT) incorporates traditional CPT and components of faith. This quasi-experimental pilot study included a sample of six adult survivors of childhood trauma who completed the 12-session manualized SICPT program. Despite the small sample size, there were statistically significant pre- to post-intervention improvements in PTSD symptomology (Χ (1) = 6.0, p = .01) and attachment security to God (Χ (1) = 4.0, p = .046), with a trend for improvement in spirituality (Χ (1) = 2.667, p = .102). The results of this study indicate that SICPT is an effective treatment in addressing PTSD and attachment security to God in adult survivors of childhood trauma.