title: Mild traumatic brain injury and treatment response in prolonged exposure for PTSD.
abstract: A proportion of U.S. veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which is associated with increased risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prolonged Exposure (PE) has proven effectiveness in the treatment of PTSD; however, some clinicians have reservations about using PE with individuals with a history of mTBI. We examined the impact of PE for veterans with PTSD and with or without a history of mTBI in a naturalistic sample of 51 veterans who received PE at a Veterans Health Administration PTSD clinic. We also analyzed previously collected data from a controlled trial of 22 veterans randomly assigned to PE or present centered therapy. For both sets of data, we found that PE reduced symptom levels and we also did not detect an effect for mTBI, suggesting that PE may be helpful for individuals with PTSD and a history of mTBI.
authors.affiliation: VA Ann Arbor Health Care System/University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. rekaufma@umich.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sripada
authors.forename: Sheila A M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tuerk
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Defever
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venners
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D047830:Gulf War; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict