Delivered as Described: A Successful Case of Cognitive Processing Therapy With an Older Woman Veteran With PTSD.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a first-line, evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known, however, about the use of CPT for older adults. As the United States population continues to grow and age, an understanding of the utility of CPT for older adults is vital. We present a case study describing the assessment and cognitive treatment of a 74-year-old woman veteran with PTSD secondary to military sexual trauma. CPT was associated with decreased PTSD symptoms as measured before and after treatment. Factors contributing to the veteran's response, as well as contextual and environmental factors, are discussed. The case demonstrates that CPT may be effective for older adults without major modification.

Associations Between Trauma-Related Rumination and Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress and Depression in Treatment-Seeking Female Veterans.

Trauma-related rumination is a cognitive style characterized by repetitive negative thinking about the causes, consequences, and implications of a traumatic experience. Frequent trauma-related rumination has been linked to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in civilian samples but has yet to be examined among military veterans. This study extended previous research by examining trauma-related rumination in female veterans who presented to a Veterans Affairs women's trauma recovery clinic (N = 91). The study had two main aims: (a) to examine associations between trauma-related rumination and specific PTSD symptoms, adjusting for the overlap between trauma-related rumination and other relevant cognitive factors, such as intrusive trauma memories and self-blame cognitions; and (b) to assess associations between trauma-related rumination, PTSD, and depression, adjusting for symptom comorbidity. At intake, patients completed a semistructured interview and self-report questionnaires. Primary diagnoses were confirmed via medical record review. Trauma-related rumination was common, with more than 80% of patients reporting at least sometimes engaging in this cognitive style in the past week. After adjusting for other relevant cognitive factors, trauma-related rumination was significantly associated with several specific PTSD symptoms, rp s = .33-.48. Additionally, the severity of trauma-related rumination was associated with overall PTSD symptom severity, even after adjusting for comorbid depression symptoms, rp 2 = .35. In contrast, the association between trauma-related rumination and depressive symptom severity was not significant after adjusting for comorbid PTSD symptoms, rp 2 = .008. These results highlight trauma-related rumination as a unique contributing factor to the complex clinical presentation for a subset of trauma-exposed veterans.

Spanish Abstracts by Asociación Chilena de Estrés Traumático (ACET) Asociaciones entre la rumiación relacionada con el trauma y síntomas de estrés postraumático y depresión en Mujeres Veteranas en busca de tratamiento RUMINACIÓN RELACIONADA CON EL TRAUMA EN MUJERES VETERANAS La rumiación relacionada con el trauma es un estilo cognitivo caracterizado por pensamientos negativos repetitivos sobre las causas, consecuencias e implicaciones de una experiencia traumática. Frecuentemente la rumiación relacionada con el trauma se ha relacionado con el trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y la depresión en muestras de civiles, pero aún no se ha examinado entre los veteranos militares. Este estudio extendió la investigación previa al examinar la rumiación relacionada con el trauma en mujeres veteranas que acudieron a una clínica de recuperación de trauma para mujeres del VA (N = 91). El estudio tenía dos objetivos principales: examinar (a) las asociaciones entre la rumiación relacionada con el trauma y los síntomas específicos de TEPT, ajustándose a la superposición entre la rumiación relacionada con el trauma y otros factores cognitivos relevantes, como los recuerdos intrusivos del trauma y las cogniciones de auto-culpa; y (b) asociaciones entre rumiación relacionada con el trauma, TEPT y depresión, ajustando la comorbilidad de los síntomas. En el momento del ingreso, los pacientes completaron una entrevista semiestructurada y cuestionarios de autoinforme. Los diagnósticos primarios fueron confirmados a través de la revisión de la historia clínica. La rumiación relacionada con el trauma fue común, con más del 80% de los pacientes que informaron que al menos a veces se involucraron en este estilo cognitivo en la última semana. Después de ajustar otros factores cognitivos relevantes, la rumiación relacionada con el trauma se asoció significativamente con varios síntomas específicos de TEPT, rp s = .33 - .48. Además, la gravedad de la rumiación relacionada con el trauma se asoció con la gravedad general de los síntomas del TEPT incluso después de ajustar los síntomas de depresión comórbida, rp 2 = .35. En contraste, la asociación entre la rumiación relacionada con el trauma y la gravedad de los síntomas depresivos no fue significativa después de ajustar los síntomas de trastorno de estrés postraumático comórbido, rp 2 = .008. Estos resultados resaltan la rumiación relacionada con el trauma como un factor único contribuyente a la compleja presentación clínica para un subconjunto de veteranas expuestas a traumas.

Stressful and positive experiences of women who served in Vietnam.

Experiences of women who served during the Vietnam War have been described in interviews/anecdotal reports but rarely in empirical literature. Potential positive (versus negative) aspects of service or its impact on well-being are seldom considered. We describe stressful and positive experiences reported by approximately 1,300 female military personnel, Red Cross workers, and others deployed to Vietnam. Prominent stressful (e.g., negative living/working conditions) and positive (e.g., interpersonal relationships) themes and differences based on trauma history, Vietnam experiences, and group membership are explored. We evaluate associations between themes and psychological well-being. Findings provide insight into experiences of this understudied group of women.

Distinguishing late-onset stress symptomatology from posttraumatic stress disorder in older combat veterans.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the discriminant validity of late-onset stress symptomatology (LOSS) in terms of its distinction from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD: The LOSS Scale, PTSD Checklist - Civilian Version, and related psychological measures were administered to 562 older male combat veterans via a mailed questionnaire. Analyses focused on: (a) comparing associations of LOSS and PTSD with other psychological variables and (b) examining a hypothesized curvilinear relationship between LOSS and PTSD scores. RESULTS: Compared to PTSD, LOSS was more strongly associated with concerns about retirement and less strongly associated with depression, anxiety, sense of mastery, and satisfaction with life. LOSS also demonstrated a curvilinear relationship with PTSD, such that the positive association between LOSS and PTSD diminished at higher levels of PTSD. CONCLUSION: LOSS is conceptually and statistically more strongly associated with a normative late-life stressor than is PTSD, but is less strongly related to mental health symptoms and emotional well-being. Additionally, LOSS seems more related to subthreshold PTSD than it is to clinically significant PTSD. The present findings support the discriminant validity of LOSS.

Women at war: The crucible of Vietnam.

Relatively little has been written about the military women who served in Vietnam, and there is virtually no literature on deployed civilian women (non-military). We examined the experiences of 1285 American women, military and civilian, who served in Vietnam during the war and responded to a mail survey conducted approximately 25 years later in which they were asked to report and reflect upon their experiences and social and health histories. We compare civilian women, primarily American Red Cross workers, to military women stratified by length of service, describe their demographic characteristics and warzone experiences (including working conditions, exposure to casualties and sexual harassment), and their homecoming following Vietnam. We assess current health and well-being and also compare the sample to age- and temporally-comparable women in the General Social Survey (GSS), with which our survey shared some measures. Short-term (<10 years) military service women (28%) were more likely to report their Vietnam experience as "highly stressful" than were career (>20 years; 12%) and civilian women (13%). Additional differences regarding warzone experiences, homecoming support, and health outcomes were found among groups. All military and civilian women who served in Vietnam were less likely to have married or have had children than women from the general population, χ2 (8) = 643.72, p < .001. Career military women were happier than women in the general population (48% were "very happy", as compared to 38%). Civilian women who served in Vietnam reported better health than women in the other groups. Regression analyses indicated that long-term physical health was mainly influenced by demographic characteristics, and that mental health and PTSD symptoms were influenced by warzone and homecoming experiences. Overall, this paper provides insight into the experiences of the understudied women who served in Vietnam, and sheds light on subgroup differences within the sample.

From Late-Onset Stress Symptomatology to Later-Adulthood Trauma Reengagement in Aging Combat Veterans: Taking a Broader View.

About a decade ago we proposed the notion of late-onset stress symptomatology, to characterize the later-life emergence of symptoms related to early-life warzone trauma among aging combat Veterans. We hypothesized that aging-related challenges (role transition and loss, death of family members and friends, physical and cognitive decline) might lead to increased reminiscence, and possibly distress, among Veterans who had previously dealt successfully with earlier traumatic events. Recently, we have reexamined our earlier ideas, to better reflect our developing understanding of this phenomenon, and to incorporate more contemporary perspectives on posttraumatic growth and resilience. As a result, we have broadened our conceptualization to later-adulthood trauma reengagement (LATR). We suggest that in later life many combat Veterans confront and rework their wartime memories in an effort to find meaning and build coherence. Through reminiscence, life review, and wrestling with issues such as integrity versus despair, they intentionally reengage with experiences they avoided or managed successfully earlier in life, perhaps without resolution or integration. This article links LATR to classic gerontologic notions, and elaborates how the LATR process can lead positively to personal growth or negatively to increased symptomatology. We also address the role of preventive intervention in enhancing positive outcomes for Veterans who reengage with their wartime memories in later life.

Assessing late-onset stress symptomatology among aging male combat veterans.

This study's goal was to develop a measure of late-onset stress symptomatology (LOSS). LOSS is a phenomenon observed in aging combat veterans who (a) were exposed to highly stressful combat events in their early adult years, (b) have functioned successfully throughout midlife with no history of chronic stress-related disorders, but (c) begin to register increased combat-related thoughts, feelings, and reminiscences commensurate with the changes and challenges of aging. Several samples of older male combat veterans from World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War served as participants. We developed a LOSS Scale that demonstrated a high degree of internal consistency reliability (coefficient alpha = 0.97). Scores were stable over brief intervals but were sensitive to developmental change over an extended period. Factor analysis suggested a single LOSS factor. Bivariate associations between LOSS score and other variables (e.g., indicators of contemporary life stressors, resilience, quality of life) were consistent with hypotheses, and there was support for the incremental validity of LOSS vis-à-vis posttraumatic stress symptoms and symptoms of general distress. Discussion of the potential uses of the scale, future directions for psychometric research, and suggestions for generalizing the LOSS construct to other trauma populations are provided.