title: Comparing effectiveness of CPT to CPT-C among U.S. Veterans in an interdisciplinary residential PTSD/TBI treatment program.
abstract: Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a leading cognitive-behavioral treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a front-line intervention according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs treatment guidelines. The original CPT protocol entails the creation of a written trauma account and use of cognitive therapy. Cognitive processing therapy-cognitive therapy only (CPT-C) does not involve a written account and in a previous study resulted in faster symptom improvement and fewer dropouts than standard CPT. This study sought to replicate these findings by comparing the effectiveness of CPT to CPT-C in a sample of 86 U.S. male veterans receiving treatment in a PTSD residential program for individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury. CPT and CPT-C were delivered in a combined individual and group format as part of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment program. Outcomes were self- and clinician-reported PTSD and self-reported depression symptoms. Multilevel analysis revealed no significant difference for PTSD symptoms, but did show a greater decrease in depression at posttreatment (d = 0.63) for those receiving CPT. When an experiment-wise α correction was applied, this effect did not remain significant.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Recovery Center, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Dickstein
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chard
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012114:Residential Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*