Introduction: Difficulty controlling anger is a common postdeployment problem in military personnel. Chronic and unregulated anger can lead to inappropriate aggression and is associated with behavioral health, legal, employment, and relationship problems for military service members. Military-related betrayal (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Positive and negative affect influence an individual's ability to utilize available physical, psychological, and social resources to maximize responses to life events. Little research has examined the factors that influence the development of positive affect or reduction of negative affective responses among deployed military personnel. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between deployment-related stressors and symptoms of behavioral health concerns with affectivity among deployed U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is substantial and often results in pervasive functional impairments. Although evidence-based treatments for PTSD are established, there remains room for improvement as many individuals continue to meet diagnostic criteria even after successful treatment completion. Cannabidiol (CBD) has attracted considerable attention based on its potential to treat a myriad of health conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) sought to examine the preliminary efficacy of an internet-based version of written exposure therapy delivered to veterans through an online program supported by peer coaches. Veterans (N = 124) with clinically significant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were randomly assigned to imaginal exposure either via writing (written exposure) or verbal recounting (verbal exposure). The online treatment involved four to eight sessions of imaginal exposure preceded and followed by an online chat with a peer coach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEmerging research suggests that body dissatisfaction (BD) is prevalent among midlife and older women (i.e., upwards of 70%).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCognitive processing therapy (CPT) is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, some patients do not improve to the same extent as others. It is important to understand potential factors that can be modified for better patient outcomes. This clinical trial implemented a three-arm, equipoise-stratified randomization design to allow for the accommodation of patient preference before randomization to one of three CPT treatment modalities: in-home, in-office, or telehealth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Physical exercise is a lifestyle intervention that can positively impact aspects of physical and psychological health. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that physical exercise, sleep, and PTSD are interrelated. This study investigated possible relationships.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate sex-related differences in symptoms of sleep disorders, sleep-related impairment, psychiatric symptoms, traumatic brain injury, and polysomnographic variables in treatment-seeking military personnel diagnosed with insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or comorbid insomnia and OSA (COMISA).
Methods: Participants were 372 military personnel (46.2% women, 53.
This study was an examination of the puzzling finding that people assessed for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) consistently score higher on the self-report PTSD Checklist for (PCL-5) than the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for (CAPS-5). Both scales purportedly assess PTSD severity with the same number of items, scaling, and scoring range, but differences in scores between measures make outcomes difficult to decipher. The purpose of this study was to examine several possible psychometric reasons for the discrepancy in scores between interview and self-report.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe intent of this study is to examine treatment impact and efficiency observed when cognitive behavioral treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are delivered in-person or using telehealth. This study pooled data from 268 veterans enrolled in two PTSD clinical trials. In both trials, treatment was delivered using in-home telehealth ( arm), in-home in-person ( arm), and in-office care, where patients traveled to the Department of Veterans Affairs for either office-based telehealth or office-based in-person care ( arm).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe assessed the interrater reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview-Short Form (SITBI-SF) in a sample of 1,944 active duty service members and veterans seeking services for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions. The SITBI-SF demonstrated high interrater reliability and good convergent and discriminant validity. The measurement properties of the SITBI-SF were comparable across service members and veterans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInterpersonal functioning is a common concern for people with postttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but is not a key target of most trauma-focused psychotherapies (TFPs). We preregistered and undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy of TFPs for improving interpersonal functioning. Studies were identified through the PTSD Trials Standardized Data Repository, scholarly databases, and the solicitation of unpublished data from the PTSD research community following current PRISMA guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Improved, efficient, and acceptable treatments are needed for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Objective: To determine the efficacy of 2 compressed prolonged exposure (PE) therapy outpatient treatments for combat-related PTSD.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized clinical trial was conducted among military personnel and veterans at 4 sites in Texas from 2017 to 2019.
Prolonged exposure therapy (PE) is an efficacious treatment for active duty service members and veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, PE is sometimes associated with high dropout rates, limited tolerability, and temporary symptom exacerbation during treatment. Stellate ganglion blocks (SGBs) are an emerging treatment that has the potential to enhance outcomes for PTSD when combined with trauma-focused psychotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study examined the impact of a history of head injury (HHI) on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms in active duty military personnel following group and individual cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Data for these secondary analyses were drawn from a clinical trial comparing group and individual CPT. Service members (N = 268, 91.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPsychol Trauma
March 2023
Objective: A common concern is whether individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hazardous drinking will respond to PTSD treatment or need a higher dose. In a sample of active-duty military, we examined the impact of hazardous drinking on cognitive processing therapy (CPT) outcomes and whether number of sessions to reach good end-state or dropout differed by drinking status.
Method: Participants included 127 service members participating in a clinical trial of variable-length CPT.
Objective: Tinnitus and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are among the top service-connected disabilities within the Veterans Health Administration. Extant research shows that there is considerable overlap between tinnitus-related distress and PTSD, including sleep difficulty, irritability, hyperarousal, and concentration problems. However, no studies have prospectively examined the relationship between the two disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health issue among military service members and veterans. Although the U.S.
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