'BRIEF ECLECTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY - IFP

3 rd IFP-Training-Workshop:
‘BRIEF ECLECTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
AN INTEGRATED EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH FOR THE TREATMENT OF PTSD.’
Friday 12 October – Sunday 14 October 2007, IFP, Vienna, Austria
Workshop trainers:
Prof.dr. Berthold Gersons, professor of Psychiatry, Dep. of Psychiatry, AMC de
Meren, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, b.p.gersons@amc.uva.nl
Mirjam Nijdam, MSc, psychologist / researcher, Center for Psychological Trauma,
Dep. of Psychiatry, AMC de Meren, University of Amsterdam,
Netherlands, m.j.nijdam@amc.uva.nl
Place: Vienna 13, Kardinal König Haus, Kardinal König Platz 3 (Lainzerstr.)
Time: Fri 12. Oktober (14.00) – Sun 14. Oktober 2007 (13.00)
Price: IFP-members or members of IFP-societies 280,- Euro
Booking before Aug. 31 st : 250,- Euro
Non-members of IFP
330,- Euro*
Booking before Aug. 31 st : 300,- Eruo
* Membershipfee per year 30,- Euro (15 UE)
The seminar will be held in German language.
Application: c.erpenbeck@ifp.name
Workshop objective:
‣ To understand the framework of this effective treatment for PTSD;
‣ To understand and become familiarized with the different modules of this treatmentprotocol;
‣ To reach level I certificate to start practicing BEP with supervision;
What is BEP?
The 16-sessions Brief Eclectic Protocol (BEP) was originally developed for police officers (n-
300) with PTSD and proved to be effective in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). A recent
RCT has shown again its effectiveness with neuro-imaging and a significant decrease of the
heart rate. Meanwhile BEP has been used with excellent results for a range of other PTSD
patients e.g. following disasters (n-1300). The treatment starts with psychoeducation on
PTSD. The patient and his or her partner learn to understand the symptoms of PTSD as
dysfunctional, and caused by the traumatic event. The patient will then receive 4-6 sessions
of relaxation and imaginal exposure, focused on the suppressed intense emotions of sorrow.
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Memorabilia is used to stimulate remembrances of the traumatic event and a writing task to
write a letter to someone or an institution blamed for the traumatic incident. The letter is
specifically used to help to express the aggressive feelings. Most symptoms will then
disappear and the patient is able to concentrate on what the impact of the trauma has been
on his view of him or herself and on their world. During BEP there should be considerable
change and a new equilibrium should be reached. This is called the ‘domain of meaning
phase’.
Recent research by Edna Foa, has shown the need of context after exposure to prevent new
episodes of PTSD. The treatment will end by a farewell ritual with the partner in which the
letter and or mementos are burned to leave the traumatic incident behind, as a way to turn
and face life and the future, at the same time never to forget, but not hindering the
individual anymore in their daily life.
The workshop will cover 2,5 days in which all elements of the protocol will be trained.
Schedule:
Friday 12 October, 14.00 – 19.00:
Afternoon:
‣ Learning to know each other and presentation of expectations
‣ Diagnostics of PTSD.
‣ BEP- Introduction.
Evening:
‣ Psychoeducation.
‣ Imaginary exposure.
Saturday 13 October, 9.00 – 17.00:
Morning:
‣ Discussion of cases;
‣ Use of memorabilia and letter writing;
Afternoon:
‣ Domain of meaning
‣ Farewell ritual.
Sunday 14 October, 9.00 – 13.00:
‣ Indications and contra-indications;
‣ Comorbidity;
‣ Transference and countertransference;
‣ BEP and CBT and EMDR;
‣ Evaluation and diplomas;
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Short biographical sketch.
CV professor dr. Berthold Gersons
Berthold Gersons (61) is a psychiatrist, distinguished AMC-professor and professor of
psychiatry at the Academical Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam, the
Netherlands. In 1980 he started research on trauma and PTSD in the police force and he
established the first self-help-team in Dutch police force. Currently 10% of the Dutch police
officers are member of the ‘occupational support teams’ after trauma. He developed the Brief
Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) protocol consisting of 16-sessions for police officers and other
trauma-I victims and showed the effectiveness in randomised trials. BEP has been
recognized in the NICE Guidelines (2005). He has been advisor for the Dutch Government
after major disasters in the Netherlands, like the El Al air crash in 1992 and the Enschede
firework disaster in 2000. He is a member of the Board of the Dutch Veterans Institute and
was an advisor for the Ministry of Defence. His group with dr. Miranda Olff is active in
research on treatment and biological factors. He has been member of the board of the
Journal of Traumatic Stress, of the Board of the ISTSS and ESTSS. Currently he is president
of the European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies. He has published over 200 papers in
scientific journals and books and has lectured around 500 in his home country and in various
countries all over the world.
CV Mirjam Nijdam, MSc
Mirjam Nijdam is a psychologist at the Center for Psychological Trauma at the Department of
Psychiatry of the Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
After obtaining her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, she specialized in the diagnostic
assessment and treatment of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder. Her PhD project is a
randomized controlled trial that compares the efficacy of two psychotherapies for
posttraumatic stress disorder; Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) and Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). She has been teaching in education
programs for students of medicine and psychology, and has been a supervisor for
psychology students in their internship. Other interests include the neuropsychology of
posttraumatic stress disorder and the psychology of terrorism.
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