title: Study adaptation, design, and methods of a web-based PTSD intervention for women Veterans.
abstract: Women Veterans are a rapidly growing population with high risk of exposure to potentially traumatizing events and PTSD diagnoses. Despite the dissemination of evidence-based treatments for PTSD in the VA, most women Veteran VA users underutilize these treatments. Web-based PTSD treatment has the potential to reach and engage women Veterans with PTSD who do not receive treatment in VA settings. Our objective is to modify and evaluate Delivery of Self Training and Education for Stressful Situations (DESTRESSS), a web-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for PTSD, to target PTSD symptoms among women Veterans. The specific aims are to: (1) obtain feedback about DESTRESS, particularly on its relevance and sensitivity to women, using semi-structured interviews with expert clinicians and women Veterans with PTSD, and make modifications based on this feedback; (2) conduct a pilot study to finalize study procedures and make further refinements to the intervention; and (3) conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT) evaluating a revised, telephone-assisted DESTRESS compared to telephone monitoring only. We describe the results from the first two aims, and the study design and procedures for the ongoing RCT. This line of research has the potential to result in a gender-sensitive, empirically-based, online treatment option for women Veterans with PTSD.
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Services Research & Development, Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered Value-Driven Care, Seattle, WA, United States; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States. Electronic address: keren.lehavot@va.gov.
authors.forename: Keren
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lehavot
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Litz
authors.affiliation: Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.affiliation: VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Alison B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: The Center for Comprehensive Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.affiliation: Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education (CESATE), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Clinical trial; Internet; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Web-based intervention; Women veterans