Adapting Treatment Delivery to Improve Retention in Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment

Adapting Treatment Delivery to Improve Retention in Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment (CDA 21-191)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among Veterans and effective evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for PTSD have been implemented within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). However, retention in PTSD EBPs is poor. Premature dropout is associated with worse clinical outcomes and greater healthcare utilization. Delivery of PTSD EBPs in a massed format, typically three or more days per week delivered within a month, have shown promise for increasing retention. The present study is a pilot feasibility and acceptability study comparing massed PTSD treatment to treatment as usual (e.g., typically weekly treatment).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Veterans aged 18 years or older;
• meets criteria for current PTSD;
• willingness to be randomized to either condition (e.g., EBP-Massed or EBP-TAU);
• decision to receive CPT or PE in a treatment planning session with a Durham Trauma Recovery Program clinic provider;
• ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• High acute suicide risk;
• active manic symptoms that would likely interfere with treatment;
• active psychotic symptoms that would likely interfere with treatment;
• currently in a concurrent trauma-focused evidence-based treatment for PTSD