TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a U.S. Veterans Affairs PTSD clinic
AU - Pukay-Martin, Nicole D.
AU - Fredman, Steffany J.
AU - Martin, Colleen E.
AU - Le, Yunying
AU - Haney, Alison
AU - Sullivan, Connor
AU - Monson, Candice M.
AU - Chard, Kathleen M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Steffany J. Fredman's time was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences to the Pennsylvania State University (KL2 TR002015 and UL1 TR002014) and the Karl R. Fink and Diane Wendle Fink Early Career Professorship for the Study of Families. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, or the United States government.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a 15-session conjoint treatment for PTSD designed to improve PTSD symptoms and enhance intimate relationship functioning. Numerous studies of CBCT for PTSD document improvements in patient PTSD and comorbid symptoms, partner mental health, and relationship adjustment. However, little is known about its effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. Using an intention-to-treat sample of couples who participated in CBCT for PTSD in an outpatient U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) PTSD clinic (N = 113), trajectories of session-by-session reports of veterans’ PTSD symptoms and both partners’ relationship happiness were examined. Across sessions, there were significant reductions in veteran-rated PTSD symptoms, d = −0.69, and significant increases in veteran- and partner-rated relationship happiness, ds = 0.36 and 0.35, respectively. Partner ratings of veterans’ PTSD symptoms increased before significantly decreasing, d = −0.24. Secondary outcomes of veteran and partner relationship satisfaction, ds = 0.30 and 0.42, respectively; veteran and partner depressive symptoms, ds = −0.75 and −0.29, respectively; and partner accommodation of PTSD symptoms, d = −0.44, also significantly improved from pre- to posttreatment. The findings suggest that CBCT for PTSD was effective for decreasing PTSD and comorbid symptoms in veterans, as well as for improving relationship functioning and partners’ mental health, among a sample of real-world couples seeking treatment in a VA PTSD specialty clinic.
AB - Cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a 15-session conjoint treatment for PTSD designed to improve PTSD symptoms and enhance intimate relationship functioning. Numerous studies of CBCT for PTSD document improvements in patient PTSD and comorbid symptoms, partner mental health, and relationship adjustment. However, little is known about its effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. Using an intention-to-treat sample of couples who participated in CBCT for PTSD in an outpatient U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) PTSD clinic (N = 113), trajectories of session-by-session reports of veterans’ PTSD symptoms and both partners’ relationship happiness were examined. Across sessions, there were significant reductions in veteran-rated PTSD symptoms, d = −0.69, and significant increases in veteran- and partner-rated relationship happiness, ds = 0.36 and 0.35, respectively. Partner ratings of veterans’ PTSD symptoms increased before significantly decreasing, d = −0.24. Secondary outcomes of veteran and partner relationship satisfaction, ds = 0.30 and 0.42, respectively; veteran and partner depressive symptoms, ds = −0.75 and −0.29, respectively; and partner accommodation of PTSD symptoms, d = −0.44, also significantly improved from pre- to posttreatment. The findings suggest that CBCT for PTSD was effective for decreasing PTSD and comorbid symptoms in veterans, as well as for improving relationship functioning and partners’ mental health, among a sample of real-world couples seeking treatment in a VA PTSD specialty clinic.
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U2 - 10.1002/jts.22781
DO - 10.1002/jts.22781
M3 - Article
C2 - 34942022
AN - SCOPUS:85121596374
VL - 35
SP - 644
EP - 658
JO - Journal of Traumatic Stress
JF - Journal of Traumatic Stress
SN - 0894-9867
IS - 2
ER -