A randomized controlled trial testing couple HOPES: An online, self-help couples' intervention for posttraumatic...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts individuals and their relationships.
• Accessible and scalable interventions are needed for couples facing PTSD.
• Online, coach-guided programs offer a potential solution for delivering mental health support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Couple HOPES online intervention for couples with PTSD symptoms.
• To compare improvements in PTSD symptoms and relationship satisfaction against a waitlist control.
• To assess the maintenance of outcomes and the influence of COVID-19-related PTSD.

Main Methods:

• A randomized waitlist-controlled trial involving 67 couples where one partner had PTSD symptoms.
• Couples were randomized to immediate intervention or an 8-week waitlist.
• Outcomes including PTSD and relationship satisfaction were measured at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in self- and informant-reported PTSD symptoms were observed in the intervention group.
• Partners without PTSD reported enhanced relationship satisfaction, though those with PTSD did not show similar gains.
• Some outcome gains reverted during follow-up; COVID-19 relation to PTSD did not alter results.

Conclusions:

• Couple HOPES is an effective, low-cost, and scalable intervention for reducing PTSD symptoms.
• The intervention's benefits appear consistent regardless of whether PTSD is COVID-19-related.
• Further research with larger samples is recommended to confirm findings.