Eftekhari, A., Ruzek, J. I., Crowley, J. J., Rosen, C. S., Greenbaum, M. A., & Karlin, B. E. (2013). Effectiveness of national implementation of prolonged exposure therapy in Veterans Affairs care. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(9), 949-955. Web.
The main purpose of the study is to understand the impact and effectiveness of prolonged exposure therapy or PE on veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD. The total sample size was comprised of 1931 patients (n=1931), and the study design was centered around observational with the use of measures, such as the PTSD Checklist and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The method of analysis was based on an expectation-maximization algorithm as well as g Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling methods, which were followed by standard SAS PROC MIANALYZE procedures. The findings revealed that prolonged exposure therapy is effective and statistically significant at reducing the key symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder among veterans. PE also was impactful in decreasing the severity of depression. The overall PTSD reduction was from 87.6% to 46.2%, which is almost a two-fold improvement in mental health among the participants of the study.
Smith, E. R., Porter, K. E., Messina, M. G., Beyer, J. A., Defever, M. E., Foa, E. B., & Rauch, S. A. M. (2015). Prolonged exposure for PTSD in a veteran group: A pilot effectiveness study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 30, 23–27. Web.
The study addresses the efficiency and effectiveness of prolonged exposure therapy on veterans with PTSD in various settings, such as individual and group formats. The total sample consisted of 67 veterans (n=67), and the research design was a cohort longitudinal study. The measurements were based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria since it was conducted before the release of the DSM-V protocol, and thus the key PSTD symptoms were measured. The analysis involved paired-sample t-tests, which were needed to assess the changes and alterations across the treatment process of 12 weeks. The findings showed a substantial reduction in PTSD symptoms alongside major reductions in depressive symptoms as well. In addition, the researchers found that group therapies were far more efficient than individual sessions by 50% for groups comprised of 6 people.
Yoder, M., Tuerk, P. W., Price, M., Grubaugh, A. L., Strachan, M., Myrick, H., & Acierno, R. (2012). Prolonged exposure therapy for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: Comparing outcomes for veterans of different wars. Psychological Services, 9(1), 16–25. Web.
The given source primarily focuses on the differences in responses among veterans with PTSD to prolonged exposure therapy when it comes to various war theaters. The total sample size consisted of 112 veterans (n=112), and the study design was a cohort followed by complete self-report measures and semi-structured clinical interviews. The measurements were made on the basis of DSM-IV criteria, which included key 17 PTSD symptoms. In addition, Beck Depression Inventory-II was also used to get a fuller picture in regards to depressive symptoms. The methodological framework for the analysis was centered around the ANOVA test as well as hierarchical linear modeling or HLM. The findings revealed that all veterans experienced a significant improvement in the reduction of severity of their PTSD and depression symptoms. Veterans, who fought in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam, showed a similar pattern of improvement in their mental health. However, veterans, who fought in the first Persian Gulf War, were not as responsive to prolonged exposure therapy as other groups.
Conclusion and Summary
In conclusion, it is important to note that all three articles clearly show on a statistically significant basis that prolonged exposure therapy is effective for treating PTSD. The findings from the selected articles universally reveal that major depressive and PTSD symptoms become less severe and impactful on veterans’ daily life. In addition, PE can be delivered more efficiently in a group setting, which makes the treatment even more appealing and noteworthy. However, one should always be aware that veterans can be differentially responsive on the basis of their country of the battleground. War requires a massive amount of physical and emotional sacrifice from a person. Constant and sometimes exhausting operations often require further prolonged input. The major vulnerability took place when the actions led to the death of innocent civilians or the loss of one’s fellow soldiers. At the same time, an immense psychological pressure, as well as a burden, is put on a person, where an emotional decline sets in, and a feeling of anxiety, fear, and stress remain long after they return to the homeland. PTSD may occur in other cases, and thus, the range of phenomena that cause traumatic stress disorders is wide and covers many situations associated with the emergence of a threat to one’s own life, the life of a close one, and a threat to health or self-image. The fact of experiencing traumatic stress for many people does not go unnoticed and is the cause of acquired PTSD. The destructive effect of the trauma experienced continues to affect the whole life of a person, disrupting the development of one’s feelings of security and self-control. It is not always possible for a veteran to get out of a situation, accept defeat and start living functionally. The evidence shows that the most suitable option would be an appeal to a psychologist and subsequent PE therapy for PTSD.
References
Eftekhari, A., Ruzek, J. I., Crowley, J. J., Rosen, C. S., Greenbaum, M. A., & Karlin, B. E. (2013). Effectiveness of national implementation of prolonged exposure therapy in Veterans Affairs care. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(9), 949-955. Web.
Smith, E. R., Porter, K. E., Messina, M. G., Beyer, J. A., Defever, M. E., Foa, E. B., & Rauch, S. A. M. (2015). Prolonged exposure for PTSD in a veteran group: A pilot effectiveness study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 30, 23–27. Web.
Yoder, M., Tuerk, P. W., Price, M., Grubaugh, A. L., Strachan, M., Myrick, H., & Acierno, R. (2012). Prolonged exposure therapy for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: Comparing outcomes for veterans of different wars. Psychological Services, 9(1), 16–25. Web.