title: Group exposure therapy treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in female veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the application of a group exposure therapy model, the content of which consisted solely of repeated imaginal exposure during sessions, in a clinical sample of female veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Establishing group delivery of exposure therapy will expand options, increase efficiency, and introduce group curative factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight female veterans with PTSD completed a six-session exposure group, three participants per group, as a component of a larger treatment program. The PTSD symptom checklist (PCL) was used as the outcome measure and administered in each session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre/post-paired t-tests showed significant improvement in PTSD on the PCL, with 40% of completers showing at least a 10-point drop in the PCL scores. In addition, a repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant main effect and a significant quadratic equation, with expected initial increases in the PCL followed by a decrease below baseline at session 6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The group exposure treatment protocol showed positive outcomes on PTSD symptoms in a real-world clinical sample of female veterans. The implications include an expansion of exposure treatment choices for veterans with PTSD and increased options for therapists.
authors: New Mexico VA Health Care System, Behavioral Health Care Line (116), 1501 San Pedro SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA.
authors: Diane T
authors: DT
authors: Castillo
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: C' de Baca
authors: Clifford
authors: C
authors: Qualls
authors: Marina A
authors: MA
authors: Bornovalova
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*