Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
Published on: April 19, 2024
Behavioral Activation as a Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Returning Veterans: A Randomized Trial
Amy W Wagner1, Matthew Jakupcak1, Halina M Kowalski1
1U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon (Wagner, Kowalski); Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland (Wagner); VA National Telemental Health Hub, Continental Region, Salt Lake City (Jakupcak); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle (Jakupcak); Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla (Golshan). Dr. Bittinger, who was with the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, is now deceased.
Objective:
Although evidence-based, trauma-processing treatments exist for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), many individuals do not seek out, complete, or fully respond to these treatments, pointing to the need for alternative treatments. In this study, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of behavioral activation therapy modified to address PTSD among veterans.
Methods:
In a randomized trial, behavioral activation was compared with treatment as usual (referral to PTSD "standard care") among a sample of 80 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who were enrolled at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
Results:
Levels of PTSD symptoms decreased for both groups across posttreatment and at 3-month follow-up as measured by clinical interview and self-report measures. The behavioral activation group had greater improvement on PTSD as evidenced by the self-report measure of symptom severity. Both groups also showed improvement on self-report measures of depression and overall functioning across time, with greater improvement on depression evidenced by the behavioral activation group. Ratings of treatment satisfaction were high for both groups.
Conclusions:
Behavioral activation is a promising alternative treatment for PTSD.
Related Concept Videos
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Venous Return
What is Venous Return?
Venous return refers to the rate at which blood flows back to the heart from the body's peripheral veins. It's an integral part of the circulatory system...
Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Clinical Trials: Overview

