title: A randomized stepped care intervention trial targeting posttraumatic stress disorder for surgically hospitalized injury survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the effectiveness of a stepped care intervention model targeting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after injury.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Few investigations have evaluated interventions for injured patients with PTSD and related impairments that can be feasibly implemented in trauma surgical settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  The investigation was a pragmatic effectiveness trial in which 207 acutely injured hospitalized trauma survivors were screened for high PTSD symptom levels and then randomized to a stepped combined care management, psychopharmacology, and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy intervention (n = 104) or usual care control (n = 103) conditions. The symptoms of PTSD and functional limitations were reassessed at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the index injury admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses demonstrated that over the course of the year after injury, intervention patients had significantly reduced PTSD symptoms when compared with controls [group by time effect, CAPS (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale): F(2, 185) = 5.50, P < 0.01; PCL-C (PTSD Checklist Civilian Version): F(4, 185) = 5.45, P < 0.001]. Clinically and statistically significant PTSD treatment effects were observed at the 6-, 9-, and 12-month postinjury assessments. Over the course of the year after injury, intervention patients also demonstrated significant improvements in physical function [MOS SF-36 PCS (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Physical Component Summary) main effect: F(1, 172) = 9.87, P < 0.01].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stepped care interventions can reduce PTSD symptoms and improve functioning over the course of the year after surgical injury hospitalization. Orchestrated investigative and policy efforts could systematically introduce and evaluate screening and intervention procedures for PTSD at US trauma centers. (
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00270959).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. dzatzick@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zatzick
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jurkovich
authors.forename: Frederick P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Rivara
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Sarah Peregrine
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrie
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Oʼconnor
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Katon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014193:Trauma Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*