An Internet-based writing intervention for PTSD in veterans: A feasibility and pilot effectiveness trial.
[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 9(4) ofPsychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy(see record 2016-54154-001). In the article, the names of authors Adil Alaoui and Anas Belouali were misspelled as Adil Aloui and Anas Beloui respectively. All versions of this article have been corrected.]Objective:Veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may avoid or fail to follow through with a full course of face-to-face mental health treatment for a variety of reasons. We conducted a pilot effectiveness trial of an online intervention for veterans with current PTSD to determine the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of an online writing intervention (i.e., Warriors Internet Recovery & EDucation [WIRED]) as an adjunct to face-to-face psychotherapy.Method:Veterans (N =34) who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan with current PTSD subsequent to deployment-related trauma were randomized to Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health treatment as usual (TAU) or to treatment as usual plus the online intervention (TAU + WIRED). All research participants were recruited from the Trauma Services Program, VA Medical Center, Washington, DC. They completed baseline assessments as well as assessments 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the baseline assessment. The online intervention consisted of therapist-guided writing, using principles of prolonged exposure and cognitive therapy. The intervention was adapted from an evidence-based treatment used in The Netherlands and Germany for individuals who had been exposed to nonmilitary traumas.Results:In addition to showing that the online intervention was both feasible to develop and implement, as well as being safe, the results showed preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the TAU + WIRED intervention in this patient population, with particular evidence in reducing PTSD symptoms of hyperarousal.Conclusion:With minor modifications to enhance the therapeutic alliance, this intervention should be tested in a larger clinical trial to determine whether this method of online intervention might provide another alternative to face-to-face treatment for veterans with PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record
Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Janice L
JL
Krupnick
Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Bonnie L
BL
Green
Trauma Services Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Richard
R
Amdur
Imaging Science and Information Systems, Georgetown University.
Adil
A
Alaoui
Imaging Science and Information Systems, Georgetown University.
Anas
A
Belouali
Trauma Services Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Erika
E
Roberge
Trauma Services Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
David
D
Cueva
Trauma Services Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Miguel
M
Roberts
Trauma Services Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Elizabeth
E
Melnikoff
Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Mary Ann
MA
Dutton
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000073397:Occupational Stress; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D014956:Writing