Couple's Retreats for PTSD: Healing the Impacts of Trauma in Texas Veteran Families
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 终止
- 入组人数
- 20
- 试验地点
- 2
- 主要终点
- PTSD Checklist - DSM-5 (PCL-5)
研究概览
简要总结
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk for conflict and dissatisfaction in romantic relationships. Accelerated, Intensive, Multi-Couples Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (AIM-CBCT) is a behavioral treatment that targets reducing PTSD symptoms and improving relationship functioning. The treatment is delivered over two days using an intensive, outpatient group (between 2 to 6 couples) format. Previous research has found that AIM-CBCT for PTSD decrease PTSD symptoms and improves relationship functioning in military veterans and service members with combat-related PTSD. The present study examines whether these original findings can be replicated in a broader military/Veteran sample of up to 80 couples. The investigators predict that AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be associated with significant decreases in PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety in Veteran/military service members, significant decreases in mental health symptoms in their romantic partners, and an increase in couple's satisfaction for both the Veteran/service members and their partners.
Couples who agree to participate in the research study will be asked to participate in a 60-mintute pre-retreat meeting, the two-day retreat in which AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be delivered, and a 60-minute post-retreat check-in meeting. Additionally, each member of the couple will be asked to complete measures on their trauma history, mental health symptoms, and relationship functioning at baseline and at two and four weeks after the retreat.
详细描述
Numerous studies have documented an association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and intimate relationship problems in Veterans and their partners, including relationship distress, physical and psychological aggression, and psychological distress in partners. Prior studies support the use of Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD (CBCT for PTSD) to treat PTSD and comorbid symptoms while simultaneously improving intimate relationship functioning. However, the standard outpatient format of CBCT for PTSD (i.e., fifteen 75-minute sessions over 15 weeks) presents challenges for many couples as well as for large-scale dissemination. To address these concerns, Dr. Steffany Fredman in collaboration with the STRONG STAR Consortium to Alleviate PTSD adapted CBCT for PTSD into an accelerated, intensive, multiple-couple format (AIM-CBCT for PTSD). The initial data of AIM-CBCT for PTSD tested in 24 couples was promising suggesting that this two-day retreat can reduce PTSD symptoms and improve mental health and relationship functioning in post-9/11 service members/veteran couples.
In September 2021, the South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience (STRONG STAR) initiated a clinical program which provides AIM-CBCT for PTSD to Texas Veteran couples impacted by PTSD symptoms. Within the clinical program, couples are asked to participate in an intake assessment to determine eligibility for treatment, a 60-minute pre-retreat meeting, a two-day retreat, a two-week post-retreat assessment, and a two-week post-retreat check-in. Couples who are eligible for the clinical program will be invited to participate in this replication study, which examines whether AIM-CBCT for PTSD is associated with reductions in PTSD and improvements in relationship functioning in a broader Veteran sample of up to 80 couples.
Research Questions and Hypotheses:
- Will Accelerated, Intensive, Multi-Couple Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy delivered in a 2-day retreat (AIM-CBCT for PTSD) be associated with significant improvements in patient-rated PTSD symptom severity, as measured by the PTSD Checklist-DSM-5 (PCL-5), when assessed two-weeks and one month after treatment?
Hypothesis 1: Participation in AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be associated with a significant reduction of self-reported PTSD symptoms on the Posttraumatic Checklist-DSM 5 (PCL-5) at the one-month follow-up assessment. 2. Will AIM-CBCT for PTSD be associated with significant improvements in secondary outcomes (e.g., patient self-reported comorbid symptom severity, relationship satisfaction) when assessed two-weeks and one month after treatment?
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Na
- 干预模型
- Single Group
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 65 Years（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Cohabitating couples (ages 18 to 65 years old), who have been together for at least 4 months who reside in Texas.
- •At least one partner in the relationship is a Texas Veteran with significant PTSD symptoms as determined by the endorsement of at least one Criterion A event on the Life Event Checklist, the endorsement of at least one re-experiencing on the PCL-5 (i.e., a score of 2 or higher on Items 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5), the endorsement of at least one avoidance symptom on the PCL-5 (i.e., a score of 2 or higher on Items 6 or 7), and a total symptom score of 31 or higher on the PCL-
- •Both individuals must be willing to participate in the study.
- •Both individuals must be able to speak and read English.
排除标准
- •Couple is separated and/or is taking steps to dissolve their relationship (e.g., divorce).
- •Veteran or partner are currently participating in an evidence-based treatment for PTSD (Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD).
- •Veteran or partner exhibit current psychiatric symptoms warranting immediate intervention that is beyond the scope of the treatment provided in this study.
- •Veteran or partner exhibit evidence of a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (as determined by the inability to comprehend the baseline screening questionnaires)
- •Veteran or partner report current suicidal ideation severe enough to warrant immediate attention (as determined by the Depressive Symptoms Index - Suicidality Subscale; DSI-SS)
- •Evidence or admission of severe intimate aggression as indicated by a "yes" endorsement to the one-question Screen for Conflict Question by Veteran or partner occurring within the past 6-months.
结局指标
主要结局
PTSD Checklist - DSM-5 (PCL-5)
时间窗: Baseline, two-week post-retreat assessment, one-month post-retreat assessment
Change in scale measurements by the PTSD CheckList-5. The PCL-5 is a 20-item, self-report measure of PTSD symptoms experienced in the past month. Each item is rated on a severity scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely). The measure provides a total severity score that ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores representing more PTSD symptoms.
次要结局
- General Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7)(Baseline, two-week post-retreat assessment, one-month post-retreat assessment)
- Couples Satisfaction Index-32 (CSI-32)(Baseline, two-week post-retreat assessment, one-month post-retreat assessment)
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)(Baseline, two-week post-retreat assessment, one-month post-retreat assessment)