Brief Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Deployment-Related PTSD Symptoms in Primary Care Settings

Summary

A significant number of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are affected by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The limited reach of effective treatments for PTSD into the veteran population is at least partially due to the perceived stigma by service members for seeking help in traditional specialty mental health clinics. A comprehensive approach to PTSD treatment in a veteran population should provide alternative sources for accessing effective psychotherapy treatments. The purpose of study is to conduct a randomized clinical trial comparing a brief (four 30-minute sessions delivered over 6 weeks) cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol designed specifically for use by behavioral health consultants working in an integrated primary care setting to a minimal contact 6-week control. The primary outcome measure is PTSD symptom relief.

Conditions

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Brief Cognitive Behavioral Treatment

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol designed specifically for use by behavioral health consultants (BHC) working in an integrated primary care setting. The treatment will be provided by a BHC in four 30-minute appointments scheduled approximately once a week in primary care over a one month period. Treatment content was largely drawn from a Prolonged Exposure model, but also includes elements of Cognitive Processing Therapy.

BEHAVIORAL

Minimal Contact

Participants assigned to minimal contact (MC) will be asked to not work with another therapist or seek additional treatment for trauma-related difficulties during the 6-week MC period. They will be called once per week by the Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) in order to monitor their status and to provide support as needed. The calls will be limited to 5-10 minutes.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• San Antonio Military Medical Center

  collaborator FED

• 59th Medical Wing

  collaborator FED

• Wright State University

  collaborator OTHER

• The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Alan L Peterson, PhD, ABPP · The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-12-31

Primary Completion

2015-03-31

Completion

2015-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations