Moving effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder to primary care: A randomized controlled trial with active duty military.

INTRODUCTION: Many military service members with PTSD do not receive evidence-based specialty behavioral health treatment because of perceived barriers and stigma. Behavioral health providers in primary care can deliver brief, effective treatments expanding access and reducing barriers and stigma. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to determine if a brief cognitive-behavior therapy delivered in primary care using the Primary Care Behavioral Health model would be effective at reducing PTSD and co-occurring symptoms. METHOD: A total of 67 service members (50 men, 17 women) were randomized to receive a brief, trauma-focused intervention developed for the primary care setting called Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC) or a delayed treatment minimal contact control condition. Inclusion criteria were significant PTSD symptoms following military deployment, medication stability, and interest in receiving treatment for PTSD symptoms in primary care. Exclusion criteria were moderate or greater risk of suicide, severe brain injury, or alcohol/substance use at a level that required immediate treatment. Assessments were completed at baseline, posttreatment/postminimal contact control, and at 8-week and 6-month posttreatment follow-up points. Primary measures were the PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview and the PTSD Checklist-Stressor-Specific. RESULTS: PE-PC resulted in larger reduction in PTSD severity and general distress than the minimal contact control. Delayed treatment evidenced medium to large effects comparable to the immediate intervention group. Treatment benefits persisted through the 6-month follow-up of the study. DISCUSSION: PE-PC delivered in integrated primary care is effective for the treatment of PTSD and co-occurring symptoms and may help reduce barriers and stigma found in specialty care settings. (PsycINFO Database Record

Development of a multilevel prevention program for improved relationship functioning in active duty military members.

The relationships and families of active duty (AD) service members have been tremendously strained by deployments and high operations' tempo. This study involves the first steps in developing a multilevel approach to preventing relationship problems that integrates universal, selective, and indicated prevention/intervention. Such an approach has tremendous empirical support for parenting problems, but no similar program exists for couple problems. We conducted two studies with U.S. Air Force Security Forces members. Study 1 elicited the target population's topics of highest interest. For almost all topics, 70% to 95% of participants who desired information reported being underserved by current prevention offerings (i.e., not receiving needed information). Using the top topics generated in Study 1, we developed prevention information/action planning sheets on 18 relationship issues. In Study 2, we had AD members who gave feedback on the form and content of the sheets. Overall, AD members believed that the sheets were moderately to very useful and were presented well, had pithy but comprehensive information and conveyed the content well. Results imply that a multilevel approach may be a useful complement to formal services in meeting underserved military members' needs and that further research and development of this dissemination vector for evidence-based information is warranted.

An application of cognitive-behavioral anger management training in a military/occupational setting: efficacy and demographic factors.

OBJECTIVE: This treatment outcome study evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral psychoeducational anger management training application offered in a military/occupational setting. Additionally, demographic factors were analyzed to identify any relationship among age, gender, occupational/educational status, and anger subscale scores or treatment effects. METHOD: The State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory was used as a pretest/post-test measure for 91 total participants in a series of four-session cognitive behavioral anger management training groups conducted through Francis E. Warren Air Force Base mental health clinic over an 18-month period. RESULTS: Significant improvements (p < 0.05) on all State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory anger scales were noted for the 46 participants who completed the program. Post hoc comparisons of demographic factors yielded no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with previously published findings insofar as the intervention was effective in reducing self-reported anger as measured by the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. The present study affirms the efficacy of a brief cognitive-behavioral psychoeducational approach to treat problem anger in a noncontrolled community/occupational sample.