title: A brief intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder in persons with a serious mental illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in people with a serious mental illness, but it is often not diagnosed or treated. Recent progress has been made in developing and validating interventions for PTSD in this population, but dropout from treatment can be problematic. The present study evaluated the feasibility and clinical outcomes of a Brief program (three sessions) for the treatment of PTSD in persons with a serious mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the Brief program, which comprises three individual weekly sessions and includes education about trauma and PTSD, as well as instruction in breathing retraining for the self-management of anxiety. Eighteen predominantly minority persons with serious mental illness and PTSD were enrolled in the Brief program and assessed at baseline, 1-month posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acceptability and tolerability of the program were high, with 15 of 18 (83%) study participants completing all three sessions. Interview-based and self-report assessments indicated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, depression, and other symptoms at posttreatment, with treatment gains maintained at the 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest the Brief program may be clinically beneficial to persons with serious mental illnesses and PTSD and indicate that more rigorous research is needed to evaluate the program.
authors.affiliation: Places for People: Community Alternatives for Hope, Health and Recovery.
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nishith
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Departments of Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Psychiatry, Boston University.
authors.forename: Kim T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Mueser
authors.affiliation: Places for People: Community Alternatives for Hope, Health and Recovery.
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Morse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D057566:Self Report; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States