Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Cognitive-Behavioral Couples Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral couples therapy designed for post-traumatic stress disorder in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and in improving relationship functioning.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral couples therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (CBCT for PTSD)

Detailed Description

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent and disabling disorder that affects about 7.7 million adults in the United States. PTSD can develop after someone experiences a particularly distressing event that may involve the threat of or actual physical harm. Common symptoms of PTSD include avoidance of situations or cues that may act as reminders of the event, reoccurring flashbacks of the event, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and numbing of emotions. Additionally, PTSD is often associated with far-reaching and devastating interpersonal relationship problems that can maintain or aggravate other PTSD symptoms. These interpersonal problems can also interfere with successful treatment delivery, so addressing such problems is important for improving treatment compliance, effectiveness, and long-term success. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that teaches ways to modify thoughts and behaviors that contribute to PTSD. CBT that is adapted for couples in which one partner has PTSD may be the most effective means of decreasing individual PTSD symptoms and improving the couple's relationship. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral couples therapy (CBCT) for PTSD in reducing symptoms of PSTD and in improving relationship functioning for couples in which one partner has PTSD.

Participation in this study will last 8 months. All participants will undergo baseline assessments that will include an interview about exposure to traumatic events, PTSD symptoms, mental health problems, and substance use; self-report questionnaires about mood, social and leisure activities, and relationships; and a brief video-recorded communication session as a couple. Eligible participants will then be assigned randomly to receive immediate CBCT for PTSD or delayed CBCT for PTSD. Participants in the delayed treatment group will receive active treatment after a 3-month waitlist period. CBCT for PTSD will include fifteen 75-minute couples therapy sessions, occurring twice weekly for 3 weeks and weekly for the remaining 9 weeks of treatment. Sessions will follow manual-based couples therapy and will aim to both decrease individual PTSD symptoms and enhance dyadic functioning. After each session, participants will also complete out-of-session practice assignments that will include completing worksheets and practicing skills taught in therapy sessions.

Participants receiving immediate CBCT for PTSD will undergo subsequent assessments at mid-treatment, end of treatment, and 3 months after the end of treatment. Participants receiving delayed treatment will undergo assessments 1 and 3 months into the wait-list period and at the end of treatment. Assessments will include questions about PTSD and mental health symptoms, alcohol and substance use, intimate relationship functioning, and family and social activities. Participants will repeat the communication session after the end of treatment for the group receiving immediate therapy and at the end of the wait-list period for the delayed treatment group.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2K3
      • Ryerson University
• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02130
      • VA Boston Healthcare System

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current diagnosis of PTSD
• An intimate partner willing to participate in treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Both partners have PTSD
• Either partner with substance dependence not in remission for at least 3 months before study entry, current uncontrolled bipolar or psychotic disorder, or severe cognitive impairment
• Couple currently experiencing severe intimate aggression or a desire to separate or end their intimate relationship

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1; Participants will receive immediate cognitive behavioral couples therapy for PTSD.	Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral couples therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (CBCT for PTSD); CBCT for PTSD is a 15-session manualized couples therapy that aims to both decrease individual PTSD symptoms and improve dyadic functioning.
Active Comparator: 2; Participants will receive delayed cognitive behavioral couples therapy for PTSD after a 3-month waitlist period.	Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral couples therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (CBCT for PTSD); CBCT for PTSD is a 15-session manualized couples therapy that aims to both decrease individual PTSD symptoms and improve dyadic functioning.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale	Measured at pre-treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Dyadic Adjustment Scale	Measured at pre-treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ryerson University
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Candice M. Monson, PhD, Ryerson University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Monson CM, Schnurr PP, Stevens SP, Guthrie KA. Cognitive-Behavioral Couple's Treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: initial findings. J Trauma Stress. 2004 Aug;17(4):341-4. doi: 10.1023/B:JOTS.0000038483.69570.5b.
• Monson CM, Fredman SJ, Adair KC. Cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: application to operation enduring and Iraqi Freedom veterans. J Clin Psychol. 2008 Aug;64(8):958-71. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20511.
• Monson CM, Fredman SJ, Macdonald A, Pukay-Martin ND, Resick PA, Schnurr PP. Effect of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy for PTSD: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2012 Aug 15;308(7):700-9. doi: 10.1001/jama.2012.9307.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): May 1, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 26, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 22, 2013
• Last Verified: November 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PTSD; Couple Therapy; Relationship Distress
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Other Study ID Numbers: R34MH076813 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); DSIR 83-ATAS (NIMH Program Class Code)