title: Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in U.S. combat veterans: a meta-analytic review.
abstract: Among U.S. veterans who have been exposed to combat-related trauma, significantly elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are reported. Veterans with PTSD are treated for the disorder at Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals through a variety of psychotherapeutic interventions. Given the significant impairment associated with PTSD, it is imperative to assess the typical treatment response associated with these interventions. 24 studies with a total sample size of 1742 participants were quantitatively reviewed. Overall, analyses showed a medium between-groups effect size for active treatments compared to control conditions. Thus, the average VA-treated patient fared better than 66% of patients in control conditions. VA treatments incorporating exposure-based interventions showed the highest within-group effect size. Effect sizes were not moderated by treatment dose, sample size, or publication year. Findings are encouraging for treatment seekers for combat-related PTSD in VA settings.
authors.affiliation: Philadelphia VAMC, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goodson
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Helstrom
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ferenschak
authors.forename: Seth J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gillihan
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Powers
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic / Q000379:methods; D057169:Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing / Q000379:methods; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*