Citation

Post LM, Held P, Smith DL, Black K, Van Horn R, Pollack MH, Rothbaum BO, Rauch SAM. Psychol. Serv. 2021; 18(4): 671-678.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Educational Publishing Foundation)

DOI

10.1037/ser0000518

PMID

33829834

PMCID

PMC8497634

Abstract

Intensive treatment programs (ITPs) are treating veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation (SI). The reduction of SI is a target to the abatement of suicide risk. This study examined whether ITPs utilizing PTSD treatments reduce SI and whether SI reduction is associated with PTSD symptom improvement. Veterans (N = 684) enrolled in a 2-week Prolonged Exposure (PE)-ITP or a 3-week Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)-ITP. Study data were drawn from self-report measures [PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5); item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)] administered at intake and throughout treatment. The ITPs produced large treatment effects for PTSD. SI scores also decreased over time. Lower PTSD symptom severity was associated with less severe SI in both the PE-ITP and CPT-ITP. In conclusion, both PE- and CPT-ITPs effectively treat PTSD and reduce SI among veterans in as little as 2 weeks of intensive PTSD treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Suicidal Ideation; Veterans; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy