Evaluation of brief treatment of symptoms of psychological trauma among veterans residing in a homeless shelter by use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
BACKGROUND
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in both homeless and nonhomeless veterans.


OBJECTIVE
To examine unique characteristics of being homeless that may influence PTSD treatment completion and clinical success.


METHODS
Twenty-three veterans who were homeless and residing in a homeless shelter, along with 94 veterans from the community, were enrolled to receive one to five sessions of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an emerging trauma-focused therapy for symptoms of PTSD. Rates of treatment completion with ART and acute and 6-month change in symptoms of PTSD were compared in an observational (nonrandomized) manner by housing status.


RESULTS
Compared to veterans recruited from the community, veterans residing in the homeless shelter were older and presented with more extensive psychopathology yet had less combat exposure while being more likely to have experienced sexual assault. Rates of treatment completion were 52.2% (12 of 23) among homeless veterans compared to 81.9% (77 of 94) among veterans from the community (p = .005). Among treatment completers, both groups received an average of four sessions of ART. Reduction of symptoms of PTSD was substantial and nonsignificantly greater among homeless veterans vs. those treated from the community (p = .14), as were comorbidity reductions in depression, anxiety, sleep quality, pain, and improved quality of life. Results at 6-month posttreatment follow-up were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Although limited by small sample size and a nonrandomized design, ART appears to be an effective, brief treatment for symptoms of PTSD among veterans residing in a homeless shelter. However, development of effective strategies to maximize treatment completion among homeless veterans is needed.
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL. Electronic address: kkip@health.usf.edu.
Kevin E
KE
Kip
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Rita F
RF
D'Aoust
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Diego F
DF
Hernandez
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Sue Ann
SA
Girling
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Barrett
B
Cuttino
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Mary Kathryn
MK
Long
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Paola
P
Rojas
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Trudy
T
Wittenberg
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Alisha
A
Abhayakumar
University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL.
Laney
L
Rosenzweig
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
Brief treatment; Eye movements; Military homelessness; PTSD; Psychological trauma; Veterans