Citation

Castillo DT, C'de Baca J, Qualls C, Bornovalova MA. Mil. Med. 2012; 177(12): 1486-1491.

Affiliation

New Mexico VA Health Care System, Behavioral Health Care Line (116), 1501 San Pedro SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23397693

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the application of a group exposure therapy model, the content of which consisted solely of repeated imaginal exposure during sessions, in a clinical sample of female veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Establishing group delivery of exposure therapy will expand options, increase efficiency, and introduce group curative factors. METHODS: Eighty-eight female veterans with PTSD completed a six-session exposure group, three participants per group, as a component of a larger treatment program. The PTSD symptom checklist (PCL) was used as the outcome measure and administered in each session. RESULTS: Pre/post-paired t-tests showed significant improvement in PTSD on the PCL, with 40% of completers showing at least a 10-point drop in the PCL scores. In addition, a repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant main effect and a significant quadratic equation, with expected initial increases in the PCL followed by a decrease below baseline at session 6. CONCLUSIONS: The group exposure treatment protocol showed positive outcomes on PTSD symptoms in a real-world clinical sample of female veterans. The implications include an expansion of exposure treatment choices for veterans with PTSD and increased options for therapists.

Language: en