Objective. While previous studies have documented that evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are efficacious, treatment completers often continue to experience residual symptoms. However, no studies to date have assessed residual symptoms following intensive treatment programs (ITPs) for PTSD, which combine evidence-based PTSD treatment along with adjunctive interventions. The present study examined residual symptoms of PTSD and depression in 482 veterans and service members who completed a 3-week Cognitive Processing Therapy-based ITP. Method. Residual symptoms were examined at posttreatment and 3 months following ITP completion. Frequency analyses and logistic regressions were conducted to discern the presence of residual symptoms among (a) the total sample and (b) participants who did and did not experience clinically meaningful change in PTSD symptom severity over the course of treatment. Results. Study results indicated that the majority of participants (80%–87%) reported some PTSD and depression residual symptoms at ITP completion, which commonly continued to be endorsed at 3 months following ITP completion. At both treatment completion and 3 months following treatment, participants who experienced clinically meaningful changes during the ITP exhibited statistically lower odds of PTSD and depression residual symptoms as compared to participants who did not experience clinically meaningful changes. However, regardless of whether clinically meaningful changes in PTSD symptoms were experienced, participants most commonly endorsed residual symptoms in the hyperarousal cluster of PTSD and general depression symptoms at high rates. Conclusions. Findings suggest the need to further examine functional impairment and coping skill use associated with these long-standing residual symptoms.

Zalta (2021) Do morally injurious experiences and index events negatively impact intensive PTSD treatment outcomes among combat veterans?,

Background: Evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have poor uptake and remission rates, suggesting that alternative treatments are needed. Morning bright light may be an effective treatment for PTSD given its established effects on mood and sleep, however, there are no published trials. Methods:We conducted a placebo-controlled pilot trial of a wearable light device, the Re-timer ® , for individuals with probable PTSD. Individuals were randomly assigned to the active Re-timer ® (n = 9) or a placebo Re-timer ® dimmed with neutral density filters (n = 6). Participants self-administered the treatment at home 1 hr each morning over 4 weeks. PTSD and depression symptoms were assessed at pre-and post-treatment.

Objective: Evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be effectively delivered over telehealth. There are, however, no studies that examine the effectiveness of delivering evidence-based treatments for PTSD in an intensive format via telehealth. Telehealth may be well-suited as a delivery modality because it may address barriers specific to intensive treatments. Method: To address this gap, we report on a case series of ten consecutively enrolled veterans (60% male; mean age 42.3, SD = 6.3) who participated in a virtual 2-week, cognitive processing therapy (CPT)-based intensive program. Results: All (100%) participants completed treatment and reported large reductions in PTSD and depression symptoms pre- to posttreatment (Hedge’s gws = 2.83 and gws = 1.97, respectively), pre- to 3-month follow-up (Hedge’s gws = .99 and gws = 1.24, respectively), as well as very high satisfaction. Conclusions: Results of this case series suggest that evidence-based treatments for PTSD can be effectively delivered in intensive formats over telehealth and lay the foundation for more rigorously designed and larger scale research comparing virtual to in-person delivered intensive PTSD treatments.