Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39752148›Full record

SynthesisPsychology and psychotherapy2025

Clients' experiences of psychotherapeutic interventions addressing trauma.

R Lepistö, A Ahmad, S Kangaslampi, K Peltonen

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Psychology and psychotherapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

R LepistöFaculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-0687-787X
A AhmadFaculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-5980-0668
S KangaslampiFaculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-0480-9806
K PeltonenINVEST Flagship Research Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-5112-3823

Funding

Tampereen Yliopisto
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis systematic review aimed to evaluate and synthesise qualitative research on adult clients' experiences of psychotherapeutic interventions addressing trauma across multiple modalities.

methodsSix databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL) were systematically searched. Google Scholar and reference lists of included and other relevant reviews were also searched, and in total 37 studies met the inclusion criteria. Relevant data were extracted, quality assessed following the Critical Appraisal Skill Programme checklist, and data synthesised using thematic synthesis.

resultsThe specific helpful factors and perceived impact of the interventions aligned with their theoretical bases. Certain factors were perceived to be helpful or challenging regardless of the modality used, such as relational factors between the client and the therapist, and within group settings. Towards the end of the interventions, feelings of ambivalence and emotional struggles which pervaded the process gradually resolved, as a majority of the clients expressed a sense of benefit from the whole experience. Most of the studies included in this review were published post-2020, underscoring research interest towards clients' psychotherapeutic experiences.

conclusionsThe review provides a comprehensive understanding of helpful and challenging factors of interventions addressing trauma, as perceived by clients. The analysis serves as a foundation for future intervention development. Also, it highlights the importance of therapist responsiveness and discussions with clients at various intervention stages to foster a sense of safety, prevent early drop-outs, and emphasise clients as agents of change in their therapeutic process.

Indexed as

Psychological TraumaPsychotherapyAdultHumansProfessional-Patient RelationsQualitative Researchclient experiencequalitativesystematic reviewthematic synthesistrauma

Identifiers

PMID39752148
PMCPMC11823356

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.