Cognitive‐behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (CBCT for PTSD) is associated with improvements in patients’ PTSD symptoms, partners’ psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction. However, little is known about whether CBCT for PTSD is associated with changes in other relationship domains that have theoretical and clinical relevance to the relational context of PTSD. The current study is a secondary analysis of relational outcomes from an uncontrolled, within‐group trial designed to examine whether an abbreviated, intensive, multi‐couple group version of CBCT for PTSD (AIM‐CBCT for PTSD) delivered in a retreat during a single weekend was associated with improvements in PTSD symptoms and relationship satisfaction. In this investigation, we examined whether AIM‐CBCT for PTSD is also associated with improvements in ineffective arguing, supportive dyadic coping by partner, joint dyadic coping, and partners’ accommodation of patients’ PTSD symptoms. Participants were 24 couples who included a post‐9/11 U.S. service member or veteran with PTSD. At 1‐ and 3‐month follow‐up, patients reported significant reductions in couples’ ineffective arguing (ds = −.71 and −.78, respectively) and increases in supportive dyadic coping by partners relative to baseline (ds = .50 and .44, respectively). By 3‐month follow‐up, patients also reported significant increases in couples’ joint dyadic coping (d = .57), and partners reported significant reductions in their accommodation of patients’ PTSD symptoms (d = −.44). Findings suggest that AIM‐CBCT for PTSD is associated with improvements in multiple relationship domains beyond relationship satisfaction but that these may be differentially salient for patients and partners.
Recent randomized clinical trials have established the efficacy of Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) in treating children and adults with Tourette syndrome and persistent tic disorders. However, the standard CBIT protocol uses a weekly outpatient treatment format (i.e., 8 sessions over 10 wk), which may be inconvenient or impractical for some patients, particularly patients, who are required to travel long distances in order to receive care. In contrast, an intensive outpatient program may increase accessibility to evidence-based behavioral treatments for Tourette syndrome and other persistent tic disorders by eliminating the necessity of repeated travel. This case series evaluated the use of an intensive outpatient program CBIT (IOP CBIT) for the treatment of 2 preadolescent males (ages 10 and 14 years) with Tourette syndrome. The IOP CBIT treatment protocol included several hours of daily treatment over a 4-d period. Both children evidenced notable reductions in their tics and maintained treatment gains at follow-up. Moreover, both patients and their parents expressed treatment satisfaction with the IOP CBIT format. This case series addresses an important research gap in the behavioral treatment of tic disorders literature. The patients' treatment outcomes indicate that IOP CBIT is a promising treatment that warrants more systematic investigation.
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