Day Hospital Treatment as a Missing Link for Single Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a Preliminary Study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to examine the day hospital treatment outcome on severity of clinical manifestations, general neuroticism and coping mechanisms in patients suffering from chronic combat-related PTSD.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 38 consecutive patients admitted to the Day Hospital treatment of PTSD during one year observation period. The average age of the sample was 46.03 years. The patients completed 3 self-report measures upon admission to the hospital and upon discharge: The Mississippi scale for combat-related PTSD (M-PTSD), The Crown-Crisp experiential index (CCEI), and The COPE inventory.


RESULTS
There was no significant change in the severity of clinical manifestations of PTSD, general neuroticism and coping mechanisms among the whole sample. However, compared to married participants and participants with children, single participants and those without children reported higher levels of anxiety when admitted to the hospital, but lower levels at discharge. In addition, patients without children reduced their avoidance behavior during the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study showed that single patients and those without children may benefit more from the day hospital treatment program. Our findings emphasize the importance of social support in the recovery process of severely traumatized persons, and may assist with the development of more effective therapeutic approaches.
Psychiatric Hospital "Sveti Ivan", Jankomir 11, 10090 Zagreb, Croatia, slobodanka.kezic@pbsvi.hr.
Slobodanka
S
Kezić
Dolores
D
Britvić
Sandra
S
Caratan
Lada
L
Goršić
Ena
E
Ivezić
Katarina
K
Matić
Igor
I
Filipčić
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D012847:Single Person / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome