A Randomized Clinical Trial of Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI): A Simple, Innovative Intervention for Affect Regulation in Clients With PTSD

Bradshaw, Richard A.
McDonald, Marvin J.
Grace, Ronwyn
Detwiler, Laurie
Austin, Kevin

¹Trinity Western University
²Independent Practice, Chilliwack, BC Canada
³Kwantlen Polytechnic University
⁴Independent Practice, Maple Ridge, BC Canada

The first author, Dr. Bradshaw, wishes to disclose that he is (a) a co-developer of the treatment applied in this article (OEI) with his colleague Audrey Cook; (b) is a co-author and co-editor of books about OEI with Audrey Cook; and (c) that he is president of SightPsych Seminars Inc., the company through which OEI training is organized and delivered.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Richard A. Bradshaw, Associate Professor, Department of Counselling Psychology, Room 206, Northwest Building, Trinity Western University, 7600 Glover Road, Langley BC Canada V2Y 1Y1. E-mail: [email protected]

Received April 19, 2013

Revision received September 4, 2013

Accepted October 9, 2013

Traumatology 20(3):p 161-171, September 2014. | DOI: 10.1037/h0099401

Since 1994 an innovative treatment has been in development for psychological trauma, known as Observed & Experiential Integration (OEI; ^;^,). In this small pilot RCT, OEI outperformed a delayed treatment control condition for reduction of PTSD symptoms on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). A script-driven symptom provocation protocol was employed. Ten mixed trauma survivors (3 male, 7 female) received three 1-hour sessions of OEI “Switching”. After the delayed treatment group received the same intervention, all but one participant no longer met the criteria for PTSD. In this report, the RCT is supplemented by a qualitative 2-year follow up. OEI Switching can be easily taught to clients for affect regulation during, and between, sessions.