Secondary individual outcomes following multicouple group therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: An uncontrolled pilot study with military dyads. Issue 1 (20th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Macdonald, Alexandra; Fredman, Steffany J.; Taylor, Daniel J.; Pruiksma, Kristi E.; Blount, Tabatha H.; Hall‐Clark, Brittany N.; Fina, Brooke A.; Dondanville, Katherine A.; Mintz, Jim; Litz, Brett T.; Young‐McCaughan, Stacey; Le, Yunying; Jenkins, August I. C.; Monson, Candice M.; Yarvis, Jeffrey S.; Keane, Terence M.; Peterson, Alan L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of traumatic stress. Volume 35:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 321
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2021-11-20
• Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.22729
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-9867

Abstract

Abstract: Cognitive‐behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has demonstrated efficacy for improving PTSD and comorbid symptoms and relationship adjustment. To enhance treatment efficiency and scalability, we developed a 2‐day, abbreviated, intensive, multicouple group version of CBCT for PTSD (AIM‐CBCT for PTSD). Prior work demonstrated that AIM‐CBCT for PTSD wasassociated with reductions in PTSD and comorbid symptoms in a sample of 24 post‐9/11 active duty military or veteran couples who received the treatment in a retreat format over a single weekend. The current study investigated secondary outcomes regarding trauma‐related cognitions, psychosocial impairment, and insomnia. For trauma‐related cognitions, reductions were nonsignificant and small at 1‐month follow‐up, d s = −0.14 to −0.32. However, by 3‐month follow‐up, there were significant, medium effect size reductions in total trauma‐related cognitions, d = −0.68, and negative views of self and others, d s = −0.64 and −0.57, respectively, relative to baseline. There was also a nonsignificant, small‐to‐medium effect‐size reduction in self‐blame, d = −0.43, p = .053, by 3‐month follow‐up. For psychosocial impairment, there were significant and medium‐to‐large and large effect size reductions by 1‐ and 3‐month follow‐ups, d s = −0.73 and −0.81, respectively. There were nonsignificant, small effect size reductions in insomnia at both 1‐ and 3‐month follow‐ups relative to baseline, d s = −0.30 and −0.34, respectively. These findings suggest that AIM‐CBCT for PTSD is associated with reductions in maladaptive posttraumatic cognitions and psychosocial impairment but that adjunctive interventions may be needed to address insomnia.