Prolonged Exposure for PTSD in a Veteran group: a pilot effectiveness study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is a proven treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Individual PE delivery limits accessibility for the growing number of veterans needing care.
• Group-based therapies are being explored to increase treatment accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the efficacy of a hybrid group and individual Prolonged Exposure (PE) treatment for veterans with PTSD.
• To assess symptom reduction in PTSD and depression within a 12-week hybrid PE program.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week hybrid treatment combining group in vivo exposure sessions and individual imaginal exposure sessions.
• Data collected from 67 veterans across 12 cohorts of the Group PE program.
• Analyses conducted on both completers and intent-to-treat samples.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in PTSD symptoms were observed in veterans completing the hybrid PE treatment.
• Significant reductions in depression symptoms were also found.
• Both completers and intent-to-treat analyses indicated treatment efficacy.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid group and individual PE model is an effective treatment for veterans with PTSD.
• This hybrid approach offers a viable and efficient method for delivering PE therapy.
• Findings support the expansion of group-based PE for improved veteran mental healthcare access.