Trauma-Focused CBT with a Gender Perspective for PTSD After Sexual Violence: A Case Study

Abstract

Evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical effects, along with the therapeutic alliance, of a gender-informed online TF-CBT for a woman with PTSD, assessing posttraumatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, and emotion regulation at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. We report a single-case study of an adult woman survivor of sexual violence with PTSD who received a manualized, gender-informed TF-CBT protocol (13 weekly online sessions). Standardized measures of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and emotion regulation were administered at baseline, posttreatment, and three-month follow-up. Acceptability/satisfaction and self-reported therapeutic alliance were also assessed. Posttraumatic stress symptoms decreased to a non-clinical range and remained stable at 3-month follow-up; depressive symptoms showed additional improvement, and anxiety remained minimal throughout. Therapeutic alliance was high (total 100/114; mean 5.26/6), and acceptability/satisfaction were maximal. Outcomes align with TF-CBT learning mechanisms and indicate that adding a gender perspective can enhance perceived safety and adherence without compromising technical fidelity in online delivery. This case highlights feasibility and strong patient-reported engagement; however, causal inferences are limited by the single-case design. Future research should test these adaptations in controlled trials and diverse contexts to evaluate generalizability and mechanisms of change.