A Trial of Group Psychotherapy for Veterans and Military Personnel With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Not Applicable

Completed

Interventions: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Social Rhythm Group Therapy
Behavioral: Present Centered Group Therapy

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of group psychotherapy designed specifically for male veterans and active-duty personnel with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and with disturbances in their sleep or daily routine.

Detailed Description: The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a group psychotherapy designed specifically for male veterans and active-duty personnel with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and with disturbances in their sleep or daily routine. We will compare two group therapies, one of which has been examined in previous studies for veterans with PTSD. Both group therapies have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in some veterans. However, neither group therapy has been proven to be more effective than treatment as usual for PTSD.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Veteran or active duty military personnel
Current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), at least moderate severity
Criterion A exposure to trauma occurring after the age of 18
Major depressive disorder (MDD), at least moderate severity
Disturbances in sleep (primary insomnia, insomnia related to PTSD, or nightmare disorder) or daily routine

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Structured Therapy	Cognitive Behavioral Social Rhythm Group Therapy	Cognitive Behavioral Social Rhythm Group Therapy is designed to improve mood and sleep by stabilizing social rhythms, increasing exposure to ambient light, changing dysfunctional bed/bedtime associations, activating the imagery system by changing nightmare content, and challenging dysfunctional automatic thoughts that might contribute to behavioral inactivation and nonadherence to the therapy protocol. There is no discussion of past traumatic events.
Unstructured Therapy	Present Centered Group Therapy	Present Centered Group Therapy includes education about the typical symptoms and features associated with PTSD and MDD, with a focus on how these symptoms affect interpersonal relationships. It uses the group format to decrease isolation, normalize symptoms, and provide the experience of giving and receiving support. Some relaxation training is provided early in therapy. There is no discussion of past traumatic events.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Depression	post-treatment, at 12 weeks	Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 17 item The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is an interview assessment of depression symptom severity. Total score range is from 0 (no symptoms of depression) to 52 (maximum symptoms of depression).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
PTSD	post-treatment, at 12 weeks	Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), DSM-IV The CAPS is a 17-item interview assessment post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. Total score ranges from 0 (no PTSD symptoms) to 136 (maximum PTSD symptoms).

Locations (2): University of Arizona
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Tucson, Arizona, United States
Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System (SAVAHCS)
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Tucson, Arizona, United States