Treatment for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: two-year follow-up.
This study reports on outcomes 2 years following completion of specialist veteran posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment programs in 2,223 (reduced to 1,508 at 24 months) consecutive admissions. Self-report measures of PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger, alcohol use, and general functioning were obtained at admission, 6, 12, and 24 months after admission. Significant improvements were demonstrated at 6 months, with smaller gains continuing through to 24-month assessment. Within subject effect sizes of around 0.8 were obtained for PTSD and around 0.5 for anxiety and depression. Although lack of a control group limits the extent to which improvements can be attributed to the treatment program, the data suggest that specialized treatment programs for combat-related PTSD continue to be of value.
Creamer
Mark
M
Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Australia. markcc@unimelb.edu.au
Elliott
Peter
P
Forbes
David
D
Biddle
Dirk
D
Hawthorne
Graeme
G
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000786:Anger; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001315:Australia; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005196:Family Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict