Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk for conflict and dissatisfaction in romantic relationships. Accelerated, Intensive, Multi-Couples Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (AIM-CBCT) is a behavioral treatment that targets reducing PTSD symptoms and improving relationship functioning. The treatment is delivered over two days using an intensive, outpatient group (between 2 to 6 couples) format. Previous research has found that AIM-CBCT for PTSD decrease PTSD symptoms and improves relationship functioning in military veterans and service members with combat-related PTSD. The present study examines whether these original findings can be replicated in a broader military/Veteran sample of up to 80 couples. The investigators predict that AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be associated with significant decreases in PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety in Veteran/military service members, significant decreases in mental health symptoms in their romantic partners, and an increase in couple's satisfaction for both the Veteran/service members and their partners. Couples who agree to participate in the research study will be asked to participate in a 60-mintute pre-retreat meeting, the two-day retreat in which AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be delivered, and a 60-minute post-retreat check-in meeting. Additionally, each member of the couple will be asked to complete measures on their trauma history, mental health symptoms, and relationship functioning at baseline and at two and four weeks after the retreat.
Numerous studies have documented an association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and intimate relationship problems in Veterans and their partners, including relationship distress, physical and psychological aggression, and psychological distress in partners. Prior studies support the use of Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD (CBCT for PTSD) to treat PTSD and comorbid symptoms while simultaneously improving intimate relationship functioning. However, the standard outpatient format of CBCT for PTSD (i.e., fifteen 75-minute sessions over 15 weeks) presents challenges for many couples as well as for large-scale dissemination. To address these concerns, Dr. Steffany Fredman in collaboration with the STRONG STAR Consortium to Alleviate PTSD adapted CBCT for PTSD into an accelerated, intensive, multiple-couple format (AIM-CBCT for PTSD). The initial data of AIM-CBCT for PTSD tested in 24 couples was promising suggesting that this two-day retreat can reduce PTSD symptoms and improve mental health and relationship functioning in post-9/11 service members/veteran couples. In September 2021, the South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience (STRONG STAR) initiated a clinical program which provides AIM-CBCT for PTSD to Texas Veteran couples impacted by PTSD symptoms. Within the clinical program, couples are asked to participate in an intake assessment to determine eligibility for treatment, a 60-minute pre-retreat meeting, a two-day retreat, a two-week post-retreat assessment, and a two-week post-retreat check-in. Couples who are eligible for the clinical program will be invited to participate in this replication study, which examines whether AIM-CBCT for PTSD is associated with reductions in PTSD and improvements in relationship functioning in a broader Veteran sample of up to 80 couples. Research Questions and Hypotheses: 1. Will Accelerated, Intensive, Multi-Couple Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy delivered in a 2-day retreat (AIM-CBCT for PTSD) be associated with significant improvements in patient-rated PTSD symptom severity, as measured by the PTSD Checklist-DSM-5 (PCL-5), when assessed two-weeks and one month after treatment? Hypothesis 1: Participation in AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be associated with a significant reduction of self-reported PTSD symptoms on the Posttraumatic Checklist-DSM 5 (PCL-5) at the one-month follow-up assessment. 2. Will AIM-CBCT for PTSD be associated with significant improvements in secondary outcomes (e.g., patient self-reported comorbid symptom severity, relationship satisfaction) when assessed two-weeks and one month after treatment? Hypothesis 2: Participation in AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be associated with a significant reduction of Veteran/Service members' self-reported mental health symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; General Anxiety Disorder-7) at the one-month follow-up assessment. Hypothesis 3: Participation in AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be associated with a significant reduction of partners'' self-reported mental health symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; General Anxiety Disorder-7) at the one-month follow-up assessment. Hypothesis 4: Participation in AIM-CBCT for PTSD will be associated with a significant increase in self-reported relationship satisfaction on the Couples Satisfaction Index-32) at the one-month follow-up assessment for both partners.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
AIM-CBCT consists of an accelerated, 2-day delivery of the first 7 sessions of CBCT for PTSD and is comprised of (a) psychoeducation about PTSD and relationship functioning; (b) instruction in conflict management skills; (c) instruction in effective communication skills with an emphasis on the identification and sharing of emotions to decrease emotional numbing and increase emotional intimacy; (d) discussion of the importance of approaching, rather than avoiding, difficult situations and identification of places, situations, people, and feelings that the couple has heretofore avoided as a result of PTSD; (e) instruction in identification of thoughts and related feelings that can maintain PTSD and relationship distress and strategies to increase cognitive flexibility, and (f) instruction in problem-solving skills to generate couple-level approach behaviors and guidance in how to select activities that double as opportunities to approach feared situations and engage in positive bonding.
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, United States
PTSD Checklist - DSM-5 (PCL-5)
Change in scale measurements by the PTSD CheckList-5. The PCL-5 is a 20-item, self-report measure of PTSD symptoms experienced in the past month. Each item is rated on a severity scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely). The measure provides a total severity score that ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores representing more PTSD symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, two-week post-retreat assessment, one-month post-retreat assessment
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Change in scale measurements by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The PHQ-9 is 9-item, self-report screener for current depressive symptoms. Each item is rated on a frequency scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly Every day). The measure provides a total severity score that ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores representing more severe depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, two-week post-retreat assessment, one-month post-retreat assessment
General Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7)
Change in scale measurements by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener: The GAD-7 is 7-item, self-report screener for current anxiety symptoms. Each item is rated on a frequency scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly Every day). The measure provides a total severity score that ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, two-week post-retreat assessment, one-month post-retreat assessment
Couples Satisfaction Index-32 (CSI-32)
Change in scale measurements by the Couples' Satisfaction Index. The CSI-32 is 32-item, self-report measure of couple's satisfaction. Each item is rated on a 0 to 5 scale for a total score range of 0 to 161. Higher scores represent greater levels of relationship satisfaction with scores below 96 generally considered to reflect significant distress within the relationship.
Time frame: Baseline, two-week post-retreat assessment, one-month post-retreat assessment
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