Stepped care for posttraumatic stress disorder: An open trial feasibility study

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychology
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts individuals, necessitating effective treatment strategies.
• Stepped care models offer a flexible and potentially more accessible approach to mental health treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a stepped care model for PTSD.
• To test a combination of the low-intensity This Way Up (TWU) program with the option to escalate to Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).

Main Methods:

• An open trial design was employed with 38 participants experiencing predominantly interpersonal trauma.
• Assessments included PTSD diagnosis, PTSD and depression symptoms, and quality of life at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in PTSD, depression, and quality of life were observed in both the TWU-only and TWU + CPT groups, with sustained gains at follow-up.
• Effect sizes for PTSD outcomes ranged from medium to large, with larger reductions noted in the TWU group.
• 73% of participants achieved good-end-state functioning for PTSD at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The stepped care approach combining TWU and CPT is credible, feasible, and shows meaningful mental health benefits for individuals with interpersonal trauma.
• This model offers a promising strategy for managing PTSD symptoms and improving overall well-being.