Psychometric evaluation of the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire among treatment-seeking veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

The present study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ) among veterans seeking treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Given that experiential avoidance (EA) is implicated in the development and maintenance of PTSD, it appears to be a possible clinical target for change across treatment. The BEAQ was administered among two samples of military veterans seeking outpatient ( = 179) and residential ( = 257) treatment for PTSD at a Veterans Affairs specialty clinic.

The probability of change versus dropout in veterans receiving Cognitive Processing Therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Objective: We sought to elucidate the timing of symptom change and treatment dropout in a leading evidence-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Despite its efficacy across numerous populations, treatment nonresponse and premature dropout are common in CPT and other trauma-focused interventions, particularly among military veterans. Advancements are therefore needed to reduce dropout and increase retention.

Impact of Self-Blame on Cognitive Processing Therapy: A Comparison of Treatment Outcomes.

Research suggests that cognitive processing therapy (CPT) may be a particularly well-suited intervention for trauma survivors who endorse self-blame; however, no study has examined the impact of self-blame on response to CPT. Accordingly, the current study compared response to CPT between two groups of veterans seeking residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In one group, participants endorsed low self-blame at pretreatment (n = 133) and in the other group, participants endorsed high self-blame (n = 133).

Response to Cognitive Processing Therapy in Veterans With and Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Recent studies have called attention to the need for enhancing treatment outcome in trauma-focused psychotherapies, such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT), with veterans. Given the prevalence of posttraumatic-related sleep disturbances, and the role of sleep in emotional learning and processing, sleep quality may be a target for improving CPT outcome. Elevated rates of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been reported in samples of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the impact of OSA on response to CPT is unclear.

Changes in posttraumatic cognitions predict changes in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms during cognitive processing therapy.

Objective: Although cognitive processing therapy (CPT) has strong empirical support as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), studies have not directly examined the proposed change mechanisms that underlie CPT-that change in trauma-related cognitions produces change in PTSD and depression symptoms. To improve the understanding of underlying mechanisms of psychotherapeutic change, this study investigated longitudinal association between trauma-related cognitions, PTSD, and depression among veterans receiving CPT during a 7-week residential PTSD treatment program.

Method: All 195 veterans met DSM-IV-TR diagnosis for PTSD.

Do scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-II predict outcome in cognitive processing therapy?

Current treatment guidelines for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) recognize that severe depression may limit the effectiveness of trauma-focused interventions, making it necessary to address depression symptomatology first. However, there is a paucity of research providing specific treatment recommendations using a common depression measure like the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Accordingly, we examined the utility of using BDI-II cutoff scores for predicting response to cognitive processing therapy (CPT).

Emotional Functioning in Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Comparison to Borderline Personality Disorder and Healthy Controls.

Few studies have investigated emotional functioning in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). To explore the nature and extent of emotion difficulties in OCPD, the authors examined four domains of self-reported emotional functioning--negative affectivity, anger, emotion regulation, and emotion expressivity--in women with OCPD and compared them to a borderline personality disorder (BPD) group and a healthy control group. Data were collected as part of a larger psychophysiological experimental study on emotion regulation and personality.

Diagnostic Utility of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for Identifying Full and Partial PTSD in Active-Duty Military.

The aim of this study was to determine optimally efficient cutoff scores on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) for identifying full posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and partial PTSD (P-PTSD) in active-duty Marines and Sailors. Participants were 1,016 Marines and Sailors who were administered the PCL and Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) 3 months after returning from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. PCL cutoffs were tested against three CAPS-based classifications: full PTSD, stringent P-PTSD, and lenient P-PTSD.

Comparing effectiveness of CPT to CPT-C among U.S. Veterans in an interdisciplinary residential PTSD/TBI treatment program.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a leading cognitive-behavioral treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a front-line intervention according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs treatment guidelines.

What is the typical response to sexual assault? Reply to Bonanno (2013).

We respond to Bonanno's (2013) comment on our longitudinal evaluation of sexual assault survivors. Bonanno posits that minor disruption in functioning is the modal response to any stressor or trauma, yet most women we studied had marked initial symptoms in the immediate months following assault, which gradually improved over time. We argue that sexual violence is one example of intentional and malicious victimization, which differs from other experiences studied by Bonanno, such as spinal cord injury.

Co-occurring posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms after sexual assault: a latent profile analysis.

Background: Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression frequently co-occur, but their distinctiveness following trauma remains unclear. We examined patterns of PTSD and depression symptoms after sexual assault to evaluate the extent to which assault survivors primarily reported symptoms of both disorders or whether there were meaningfully distinct subgroups with discordant PTSD and depression symptoms.

Methods: Latent profile analysis was used to examine self-reported PTSD and depression symptoms among 119 female sexual assault survivors at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-months post-assault.

Cognitive behavioral treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: empirical foundation and new directions.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is currently the most empirically supported intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and includes both specific manualized treatments (e.g., cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure) and less standardized applications.

Trajectories of PTSD symptoms following sexual assault: is resilience the modal outcome?

Theoretical frameworks positing qualitatively distinct trajectories of posttrauma outcome have received initial empirical support, but have not been investigated in cases of severe interpersonal trauma. To address this limitation, we conducted latent class growth analysis with longitudinal data collected from 119 female sexual assault survivors at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-months postassault. Participants' mean age was 33 years; 63% were White.

Latent classes of PTSD symptoms in Vietnam veterans.

The authors examined heterogeneity in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom presentation among veterans (n = 335) participating in the clinical interview subsample of the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study. Latent class analysis was used to identify clinically homogeneous subgroups of Vietnam War combat veterans. Consistent with previous research, three classes emerged from the analysis, namely, veterans with no disturbance (61.

The distinctiveness of prolonged grief and posttraumatic stress disorder in adults bereaved by the attacks of September 11th.

Background: Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a new diagnosis proposed for inclusion in the DSM-V. Although some studies have shown the distinctiveness of PGD and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this relationship has yet to be tested within a context of sudden, violent loss.

Method: We conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using self-report data collected from a sample of 587 bereaved adults who lost friends and relatives in the attacks of September 11th.

Deployment stressors and outcomes among Air Force chaplains.

Military chaplains are invaluable caregiver resources for service members. Little is known about how chaplains respond to the challenge of providing spiritual counsel in a warzone. In this exploratory study, 183 previously deployed Air Force chaplains completed an online survey assessing operational and counseling stress exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, compassion fatigue, and posttraumatic growth.

Unit cohesion and PTSD symptom severity in Air Force medical personnel.

Research suggests that military unit cohesion may protect against the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, equivocal findings have led researchers to hypothesize a potential curvilinear interaction between unit cohesion and warzone stress. This hypothesis states that the protective effects of cohesion increase as warzone stress exposure intensifies from low to moderate levels, but at high levels of warzone stress exposure, cohesion loses its protective effects and is potentially detrimental.

Heterogeneity in the course of posttraumatic stress disorder: trajectories of symptomatology.

Unconditional and conditional trajectories of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology were examined using a sample of U.S. soldiers deployed on a NATO-led peacekeeping mission to Kosovo.