Does Evidence-Based PTS Treatment Reduce PTS Symptoms And Suicide in Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Seeking VA Care?
Abstract
To compare effectiveness of evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) for PTS in Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans who use Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care (Aim 1), we used an approach that mimics a sequence of randomized trials by implementing propensity score models within each trial to achieve covariate balance, using matching. We found that Veterans who completed EBP for PTS experienced a significant improvement in PTSD Checklist (PCL) scores compared to the non-completers (i.e., 5.4-point improvement on the PCL). We also completed an analysis of factors associated with completing EBP for PTS (Aim 2). Using ordered logistic regression, we identified factors associated with achievement of hierarchal outcome categories (no EBP, EBP dropout, EBP completion) during any 24-week period. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we also assessed factors associated with faster time to completion of PE or CPT from VA mental health entry. Over a 15-year period, 265,566 Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans with PTS initiated psychotherapy in the VHA. While 22.8 initiated an EBP, only 9.1 completed treatment. Those who completed did so about three years after their initial mental health visit. Several factors were associated with EBP completion, including history of military sexual trauma (MST), older age, gender, and race/ethnicity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1053850
Entities
People
- Erin Madden
Organizations
- Northern California Institute for Research and Education