UCLA Couples Counseling for Combat Veterans

University of California, Los Angeles

Overview

A pilot intervention of an existing intervention adapted for the returning warfighter population: a couples treatment for PTSD, Structured Approach Therapy (SAT), which emphasizes reducing the PTSD avoidance/numbing symptoms that are corrosive in families.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Conditions

PTSD Recent Era Combat Veteran Couples Communication

Interventions

Structured Approach TherapyBEHAVIORAL

The SAT treatment is provided in 12 weekly 50-minute sessions and is fully manualized. First, couple-based exposure techniques are used to address anxiety about intimacy, increasing the traumatized person's ability to engage in social and relational behaviors that promote bonding and satisfaction. Second, as anxiety decreases, couple-based techniques are also used to increase the positive experiences the couple is having. These activities expose the traumatized person to positive feelings instead of anxiety, so that he/she may become desensitized to the anxiety caused by the closeness, and more comfortable engaging in intimate behaviors.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * OIF/OEF/ OND veteran with at least one deployment * In a cohabitating relationship for 6 months or longer * Cohabitating 50% of the time or more * Diagnosed with PTSD or meets the diagnosis criteria for PTSD as related to deployment experience (CAPS) * Ability to make weekly appointments * Willingness to commit to change Exclusion Criteria: * Receiving an evidence-based treatment for PTSD within the past 6 months * Receiving couples therapy within the last 6 months * Moderate or excessive physical violence within the past 3 months (CTS) * Alcohol/substance dependence (SCID) * Known domestic violence/abuse (CTS) * Symptoms of psychosis within the past 3 months * Unstable psychiatric medicine usage or on regimen less than 3 months

Locations (1)

UCLA Semel Institute

Los Angeles, California, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Improved couples communication as measured by standardized assessments

Time frame: 4-6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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