Cognitive behavioral therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder

CBT and PTSD

PTSD has been found in this study to be a problem for returning wartime veterans in the armed forces and this problem has presented challenges for practitioners. PTSD is differentiated from other clinical problems such as depression and presents with various symptoms following having been exposed to trauma. PTSD is an ongoing problem for veterans and treatment options examined in this study include the cognitive behavioral approach to treatment. Cognitive conditions in regards to mental health of veterans is noted in this study to be a problem and to be an increasing challenge in treatment since it is elevated among women veterans due to prolonged exposure to stressors. Supportive intervention has been examined as one possible behavioral therapy in this study and noted to be particularly effective in treating female veterans and active duty personnel.

Cognitive restructuring methods have been examined for use in treating PTSD in veterans and to be appropriate for use under two conditions including correcting the causality and responsibility associated with traumatic scenes in the memory of veterans and in individual therapy sessions focused on that task. Treatment planning for cognitive behavioral therapy in treating war veterans is a long-term process that is inclusive of intensive and short-term treatment of acute symptoms with a long-term rehabilitation process. Wartime veterans who seek social supports are better able to cope with PTSD and this is referred to as adaptive cognitive coping strategies which has been found in this study to be particularly effective in treating PTSD in veterans who actively served during war since there have been a large base of studies which demonstrate a direct link between the size of the veterans social network and the veterans psychological adjustment following wartime service.

Findings in this study include that multiple response systems or specifically cognitive, behavioral, and psychophysiological response systems provide the most comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of treatment of PTSD in wartime veterans. This study noted that development of just such a multi-method assessment at Jackson VA Medical Center for use in providing behavioral, subjective/cognitive, and psychophysiological indices of anxiety in response to visual and auditory stimuli linked to the trauma-inducing event. Behavioral activation therapy was found to be effectively in treating depression and to be a potentially beneficial intervention for veterans with chronic PTSD.

There is presently research being conducted among several VA Centers in what is a longitudinal survey for prediction of the use of treatment and clinical outcomes in VA patients with PTSD wince cognitive restructuring has already been found to be particularly effective in treatment PTSD in patients. Cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCGT) has been found to be the only disorder specific BCT that has a design for treating all PTSD symptoms and for enhancing the ability to the veteran to function correctly in relationships. Included in treatment are conflict management strategies that enhance the safety of the veteran and their family members along with behavioral interventions for decreasing avoidance in the veteran and dyadic communication and cognitive interventions for addressing the maladaptive thinking patterns in veterans and in maintaining PTSD symptoms and relationship distress.

Recommendations

Arising from this study and specifically the literature review conducted in this study are recommendations for additional research in the study of cognitive behavioral interventions for treatment of PTSD in wartime veterans. Included in the recommendations for treatment stated by the Center for PTSD are: (1) cognitive therapy; (2) exposure therapy; and (3) EDMR therapy. (United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2011) Other types of treatment recommended are: (1) brief psychodynamic psychotherapy; and (2) family therapy. (United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2011)