title: Are PTSD treatment choices and treatment beliefs related to depression symptoms and depression-relevant treatment rationales?
abstract: Given high rates of depression and low rates of treatment utilization among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we examined how depression symptoms impact PTSD treatment beliefs and preference (prolonged exposure (PE), sertraline, or PE plus sertraline). We also examined whether PTSD treatment rationales tailored to individuals with symptoms of depression impact PTSD treatment preference/beliefs. Undergraduates (N = 439) were given an "imagine self" scenario where they either had symptoms of PTSD or PTSD and depression in the future. Trauma-exposed community members (N = 203) reported their own PTSD and depression symptoms. All participants watched standardized treatment rationales for PE and sertraline that were systematically manipulated to include information on depression or not. Across both samples, depression symptoms were associated with significantly increased odds of selecting combination treatment relative to PE alone. For those in the community sample who received the depression-relevant treatment rationale, higher depression symptoms were associated with significantly greater PE credibility and more positive reactions toward PE. Taken together, depression may be associated with a greater preference for combination treatment. However, treatment providers may be able to improve treatment beliefs about PE by offering a treatment rationale that explains that PE tends to help improve symptoms of PTSD and depression.
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Department of Psychological Sciences, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Nina K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rytwinski
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Department of Psychological Sciences, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Cari B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Rosoff
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Department of Psychological Sciences, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Electronic address: norah.feeny@case.edu.
authors.forename: Norah C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Feeny
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zoellner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline
keywords: Depression; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Prolonged exposure; Sertraline; Treatment choice; Treatment rationales