title: Evaluating transdiagnostic treatment for distress and impairment in veterans: a multi-site randomized controlled trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
abstract: Military personnel who engaged in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq frequently present for mental health care because of the stresses of service and readjustment. Although excellent treatments are available to treat the typical presenting problems, there is a need for additional empirically supported treatment approaches for this population. Because these veterans have high levels of comorbidity, transdiagnostic treatment - treatment that applies to more than one diagnosis - may be an efficient approach for this group. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one such approach that is well-known and has high face validity for veterans, but it has not been rigorously evaluated as a treatment for trauma-related mental health problems. Described herein is an ongoing multi-site randomized clinical trial of ACT as compared to a psychotherapy control. Challenges in designing an RCT to evaluate transdiagnostic treatment and in executing a multi-site psychotherapy trial are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States. ajlang@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Ariel J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Paula P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Schnurr
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Rema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walser
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Aimee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chabot
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benedek
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*