Examining the Efficacy of Short-Term Intensive PTSD Treatment on Psychological and Cognitive Impairment Symptoms
Ohio State University
Summary
Our long-term goal is to provide rapid and sustained reductions of trauma and cognitive-related symptoms among Special Operations personnel with PTSD or subthreshold PTSD. The primary objective of this project is to examine the effectiveness of massed PTSD treatment (i.e., CPT and EMDR) in "real-world" military settings. CPT and EMDR are both empirically supported psychotherapies for PTSD. To accomplish this objective, we will enroll military personnel meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD or subthreshold PTSD (i.e., meeting threshold levels for 3 of 4 symptom criteria).
Description
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is considered one of the "signature injuries" of military operations and is the most frequently diagnosed mental health condition among active-duty military personnel. PTSD is associated with a host of psychological problems (i.e., intrusions, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition/mood, and hyperarousal) and negative outcomes (i.e., occupational and marital dissatisfaction, violence, alcohol and substance abuse, and suicide).1-3 PTSD has also been correlated with poorer cognitive performance across various domains including attention, working memory,…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: -Treatment-seeking military personnel (i.e., any assigned or aligned JSOC personnel) who meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD or subthreshold PTSD (i.e., meeting diagnostic threshold for 3 of 4 symptom criteria who are (1) 18 years of age or older; (2) current diagnosis of PTSD or subthreshold PTSD (i.e. meeting diagnostic criteria for 3 of 4 symptom criteria, assessed using the DIAMOND); (3) current military personnel; (4) ability to speak and understand the English language; and (5) ability to complete the informed consent process Exclusion Criteria: * (1) substance use d…
Interventions
- BehavioralCognitive Processing Therapy
CPT is an empirically supported psychotherapy for PTSD that focuses on why patients believe the traumatic event occurred, how that event affected their beliefs about self and others, and how to evaluate their beliefs. Patients learn to label events, thoughts, and subsequent emotions while the therapist helps them examine the facts Session Focus and context of the trauma through Socratic questioning. Using progressive worksheets, patients are taught to examine their own thoughts and emotions and develop new, more balanced thinking about traumatic events. CPT's safety and efficacy is well-established; over 80% of patients receiving the treatment benefit and \> 50% reductions in PTSD symptoms are typical.
- BehavioralEye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR is another empirically supported trauma-focused psychotherapy that is strongly recommended for the treatment of PTSD by the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder (VA/DOD, 2023). Results of multiple clinical trials indicate EMDR's effectiveness for reducing PTSD symptoms is comparable to CPT's. EMDR directs patients to think about different aspects of an emotionally upsetting memory in mind while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. The most common external stimulus is therapist-directed lateral eye movements (e.g., tracking the movement of a therapist's finger back and forth with only the eyes) but other stimuli (e.g., hand-tapping, audio stimulation) can also be used. Half of participants who do not reach good end-state by session 10 will be randomly assigned to receive up to 5 sessions of EMDR during Stage 2.
Location
- Fort BraggFayetteville, North Carolina