Pilot outcomes of a filmmaking intervention designed to enhance treatment entry and social reintegration of veterans.

Military personnel transitioning to civilian life have reported significant challenges in reintegrating into civilian culture. Filmmaking has been used as a therapeutic intervention to enhance the community reintegration of veterans, but there are no published quantitative data documenting its impact. The present study provides outcome data on 40 veterans who participated in the I Was There (IWT) filmmaking workshop. This 3-day (20-hr) group intervention involved veterans working in small teams with a film coach, making short films designed to communicate some aspect of their experience during or after military service, and then creating a screening event to show their films to community members. The sample consisted of community-dwelling veterans who reported at least some mental health symptoms and who were not engaged in mental health treatment for those symptoms. Targeted outcomes included engagement in mental health care, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and reported perception of community interest in their experience as veterans. Fifty-six percent of participants entered treatment within 4 months of participation. Significant decreases were noted in symptoms of PTSD at 1-month follow-up but not at the 4-month follow-up, while changes in depression were not statistically significant. Participation was related to increased perception of community interest in veterans' experience, and increased interest among community members who viewed the films. These data provide initial support for the conclusion that the IWT film workshop is a potentially effective tool for treatment engagement and for community reintegration among veterans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Social Functioning in Individuals With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can lead to multiple deleterious outcomes and has negative, sometimes debilitating, impacts on general functioning of those affected. This systematic review of 26 articles evaluates the existing literature on social functioning outcomes used in PTSD research, the association between PTSD and social functioning, and the impact of interventions for PTSD on social functioning. A review of 26 articles using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for systematic reviews showed that PTSD was associated with significant impairment in global social functioning. This review also reveals the need for both standardized definitions and better assessment methods to operationalize social functioning and improve our ability to compare findings across studies. The literature also suggests that some evidence-based treatments for PTSD improve social functioning despite not explicitly targeting social functioning in the treatment. The findings of this review suggest that there are ample opportunities for improving both research and interventions to improve global social functioning in PTSD.