The article titled “Effectiveness of Religiously Adapted Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms After an Earthquake: A Quasi-Experimental Study” by Dr. Clinical Psychologist Taha Burak Toprak, Clinical Psychologist Hanne Nur Özçelik, and Clinical Psychologist Hatice Rümeysa Işık has been published in the International Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In the study, conducted after the earthquake that occured Turkey on February 6, the effectiveness of a religiously adapted brief cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing post-traumatic symptoms was examined.

Following the devastating earthquake that occurred in Türkiye on February 6, the study investigated the effectiveness of Religiously Adapted Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in alleviating trauma-related symptoms. The research assessed the impact of a short-term CBT intervention incorporating religious themes on reducing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among individuals affected by the earthquake. The study employed a quasi-experimental design and observed significant reductions in trauma-related cognitions across both groups.

The study employed a quasi-experimental design and observed significant reductions in trauma-related cognitions across both groups. Additionally, during the five-session intervention program that lasted two and a half weeks, participants affected by the earthquake showed a statistically significant decrease in PTSD symptoms compared to the control group.The findings align with previous research on religiously integrated therapeutic interventions, indicating that incorporating individuals’ religious beliefs into therapy may support their coping mechanisms in the face of trauma.

These results offer a valuable contribution to the development of new approaches to mental health services, particularly in societies where religious beliefs are deeply rooted.The study suggests that religiously sensitive interventions could serve as an alternative early intervention strategy for preventing and alleviating the development of PTSD symptoms.

You can access the full article via the following link:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41811-025-00232-9