title: Cognitive behavioral treatment of PTSD in residents of battered women's shelters: results of a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of a new shelter-based treatment for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV; i.e., Helping to Overcome PTSD through Empowerment [HOPE]).
  
  
  METHODS
  A Phase I randomized clinical trial comparing HOPE (n = 35) with standard shelter services (SSS) (n = 35) was conducted. Primary outcome measures included the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS; D. D. Blake et al., 1995) and the Conflict Tactic Scales-Revised (M. A. Straus, S. L. Hamby, S. Boney-McCoy, & D. B. Sugarman, 1996). Participants were followed at 1-week, 3- and 6-months postshelter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants reported HOPE to be credible and indicated a high degree of satisfaction with treatment. Only 2 women withdrew from treatment. Both intent to treat (ITT) and minimal attendance (MA) analyses found that HOPE treatment relative to SSS was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of reabuse over the 6-month follow-up period (OR = 5.1, RR = 1.75; OR = 12.6, RR = 3.12, respectively). Results of hierarchical linear model analyses found a significant treatment effect for emotional numbing symptom severity in the ITT sample, t(67) = -2.046, p < .05, and significant treatment effects for effortful avoidance symptom severity, t(49) = -2.506, p < .05, and arousal symptom severity, t(49) = -2.04, p < .05, in the MA sample. Significant effects were also found for depression severity, empowerment, and social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results support the acceptability and feasibility of HOPE and suggest that HOPE may be a promising treatment for IPV victims in shelter. However, results also suggest that modifications to HOPE may be required to improve treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital.
authors.forename: Caron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zlotnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology