title: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Comparative Effectiveness Study.
abstract: This study compared the effectiveness of two psychotherapy approaches for treating combat veterans with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic psychotherapy (PDT). These treatments are routinely used by the Unit for Treatment of Combat-Related PTSD of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). IDF veterans with chronic PTSD were assigned to either CBT (n = 148) or PDT (n = 95) based on the nature of their complaint and symptoms. Psychiatric status was assessed at baseline, post-treatment and 8-12 months follow-up using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, the PTSD Questionnaire, the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Psychotherapy Outcome Assessment and Monitoring System-Trauma Version assessment questionnaire. Both treatment types resulted in significant reduction in symptoms and with improved functioning from pre-treatment to post-treatment, which were maintained at follow-up. No differences between the two treatments were found in any the effectiveness measures. At post-treatment, 35% of the CBT patients and 45% of the PDT patients remitted, with no difference between the groups. At follow-up, remission rates were 33% and 36% for the CBT and PDT groups, respectively. The study recommends further randomized controlled trials to determine treatment efficacy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both cognitive-behavioural therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy have to be treatments offered in clinics for treating PTSD. Therapists who treat PTSD should be familiar with cognitive-behavioural and dynamic methods. The type of treatment chosen should be based on thorough psychosocial assessment.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Division, Unit for Treatment of Combat-Related PTSD (UTC-PTSD), Israel Defense Forces, Medical Corps, Ramat Gan, Israel.|Social Work Department, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel.|The Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ofir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: School of Psychological Sciences and The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yair
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bar-Haim
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Division, Unit for Treatment of Combat-Related PTSD (UTC-PTSD), Israel Defense Forces, Medical Corps, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Yitshak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kreiss
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Division, Unit for Treatment of Combat-Related PTSD (UTC-PTSD), Israel Defense Forces, Medical Corps, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fruchter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: CBT; PTSD; Psychodynamic Psychotherapy; Treatment