Benefits of a Psychodynamic Group Therapy (PGT) Model for Treating Veterans With PTSD

Levi, Ofir; Shoval-Zuckerman, Yael; Fruchter, Eyal; Bibi, Arie; Bar‐Haim, Yair; Wald, Ilan

doi:10.1002/jclp.22443

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Veterans fulfilling this requirement were then invited for a formal clinical assessment by one of the clinic's assessors, namely, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, or social workers with 12 or more years of experience in PTSD diagnosis in veterans. Importantly, as assessors also completed the mandatory Israel Defense Forces service, they were familiar with the language, manners, behavioral norms, belief system, and rituals of Israeli military culture (Levi et al ., 2016; Levi et al ., 2017). Next, semi-structured diagnostic interviews based on DSM-IV-TR were administered as part of the routine admission process to the clinic.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This self-report includes 10 items, each rated on a 0-to-5 scale (extreme distress/dissatisfaction to optimal functioning/satisfaction). A global functioning score is derived by averaging scores across items (Levi et al ., 2016; Levi et al ., 2017). The POAMS-TV has been shown to be reliable in other samples of Israel Defense Forces veterans (Svetlicky et al ., 2010).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Symptom structure of PTSD and co-morbid depressive symptoms – a network analysis of combat veteran patients

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Despite extensive research, symptom structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly debated. The network approach to psychopathology offers a novel method for understanding and conceptualizing PTSD. However, extant studies have mainly used small samples and self-report measures among sub-clinical populations, while also overlooking co-morbid depressive symptoms. Methods PTSD symptom network topology was estimated in a sample of 1489 treatment-seeking veteran patients based on a clinician-rated PTSD measure. Next, clinician-rated depressive symptoms were incorporated into the network to assess their influence on PTSD network structure. The PTSD-symptom network was then contrasted with the network of 306 trauma-exposed (TE) treatment-seeking patients not meeting full criteria for PTSD to assess corresponding network differences. Finally, a directed acyclic graph (DAG) was computed to estimate potential directionality among symptoms, including depressive symptoms and daily functioning. Results The PTSD symptom network evidenced robust reliability. Flashbacks and getting emotionally upset by trauma reminders emerged as the most central nodes in the PTSD network, regardless of the inclusion of depressive symptoms. Distinct clustering emerged for PTSD and depressive symptoms within the comorbidity network. DAG analysis suggested a key triggering role for re-experiencing symptoms. Network topology in the PTSD sample was significantly distinct from that of the TE sample. Conclusions Flashbacks and psychological reactions to trauma reminders, along with their strong connections to other re-experiencing symptoms, have a pivotal role in the clinical presentation of combat-related PTSD among veterans. Depressive and posttraumatic symptoms constitute two separate diagnostic entities, but with meaningful between-disorder connections, suggesting two mutually-influential systems.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptom structure of PTSD and co-morbid depressive symptoms – a network analysis of combat veteran patients

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These therapists emphasize empathy, affect expression and containment, rebuilding self-esteem and counteracting shame from the narcissistic nature of the loss, and processing trauma and grief from past pregnancy loss(es) and from early traumatic losses in the mother's life now brought into awareness (Leon, 2010(Leon, , 2015. PDT is effective for a variety of conditions, including depression and anxiety (Barber, Muran, McCarthy, & Keefe, 2013), PTSD (Levi et al, 2017), and complicated grief (Kealy et al, 2017). Mother-infant PDT has been found to foster positive bonding and attachment behaviors (Cramer et al, 1990;Sadler et al, 2013).…”

Section: Psychotherapy For Pregnancy After a Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An in-depth examination of the therapy process within a single case is reasonable given the absence of literature, the unique meaning pregnancy loss holds for every parent, and the unique factors that may affect therapy in this specific context (McLeod, 2010). Because PDT is effective for many of the problems experienced by women pregnant after a loss (depression and anxiety [Barber et al, 2013], PTSD [Levi et al, 2017], and complicated grief [Kealy et al, 2017]), we hypothesized that the patient in this study will show reliable and clinically significant change on depression and general anxiety, trauma-like symptoms, pregnancy-specific anxiety, prenatal attachment, and perinatal grief over Because it has been theorized that unresolved trauma and grief can interfere with attachment to a subsequent infant after loss (Markin, 2018), we also hypothesized that change in grief and trauma will precede change in prenatal attachment. Mentalization may be an important mechanism by which PDT influences change in women pregnant after loss (Markin, 2018).…”

Section: Psychotherapy For Pregnancy After a Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

The process and outcome of psychodynamic psychotherapy for pregnancy after loss: A case study analysis.

Markin¹,

McCarthy²

2020

Psychotherapy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This is an evidence-based case study examining the process and outcome of 22 prenatal sessions and 1 postpartum follow-up session of psychodynamic therapy for a woman pregnant after a history of repeated pregnancy losses. Self-report measures of depression, anxiety, pregnancy-specific anxiety, prenatal attachment, trauma, and perinatal grief were completed prior to each session. A session quality item was completed after each session and a therapy outcome measure at termination and follow-up. The therapist and the patient completed an exit interview on the therapy relationship, which focused on moments of tension or misunderstanding, over the course of treatment. All sessions were transcribed and scored by certified raters for reflective functioning. Results suggest that the patient experienced reliable and clinically significant change on all pregnancy-specific measures, with most change happening in the early phase of treatment. However, general symptoms of depression and anxiety were variable and highly volatile over time. Exit interviews suggest that therapist empathy and validation were helpful in promoting change on pregnancy-specific symptoms, whereas problems or ruptures in the alliance may have been associated with a lack of change on general psychiatric symptoms. The patient showed little change on reflective functioning, perhaps contributing to ruptures in psychotherapy and lack of change on general psychiatric symptoms. Clinical Impact StatementQuestion: Is psychodynamic therapy helpful in ameliorating commonly observed symptoms (chronic grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, and attachment problems) during pregnancies after loss for the patient in this study and what therapy process variables may have contributed to any observed change? Findings: Empathy and validation were helpful in promoting change on pregnancy-specific symptoms, whereas problems or ruptures in the alliance may have been associated with a lack of change on general psychiatric symptoms. Meaning: Although the results of this case study cannot be generalized to other therapy dyads, the results warrant future research on psychodynamic therapy for common symptoms encountered during pregnancies after loss. Next Steps: More clinical and empirical attention should be paid to therapeutic factors that may impact the outcome of therapy, such as therapist empathy and alliance quality.

show abstract

“…18 Another therapeutic tool for the therapist is referring the victim for group therapy. 19 Each year two therapy groups open at the CSR Unit, according to age: one for victims of the Six Days War, the Yom Kippur War and the First Lebanon War and one for victims of the Second Intifada and the Second Lebanon War. Suitableness for integration in the group includes an evaluation of the ability and willingness for exposure to and bearing the stories and experiences of others, and the ability to become integrated and gain from the group process for coping with difficulties outside the treatment room.…”

Section: The Decision-making Process At the Staff Meetingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

2017

MOJAMT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this article, I will describe a method of conducting an in-depth psycho-sociological interview -"intake" -for combat PTSD victims, based on a process that has been adapted by the Unit for Treatment of Combat-Related PTSD (UTC-PTSD) of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This process is extremely complex, due to the need to make a decision based on a diagnosis that relies mainly on the therapist's subjective impression. This complexity is even greater for Combat PTSD victims, since this disorder is usually accompanied by additional disorders, such as depression, that complicate diagnosis. The structured process of diagnosis is based on an in-depth psych-sociological interview and questionnaires. This process is intended, among others, to implement the approach of the Mental Health Division of the IDF as formulated in the ethical code of the mental health officers, according to which "the types of treatment should be adapted to the individual's characteristics". The present article will attempt to shed light on the nature of the intake, screening and placement process that takes place in case of Combat PTSD. I will illustrate the attempt to examine the applicant's history until the traumatic event, the characteristics of the event and its circumstances, and the effects of the event on the applicant's present function. Then I will describe the decision-making process at the staff meeting, and the types of therapy implemented.

show abstract

Benefits of a Psychodynamic Group Therapy (PGT) Model for Treating Veterans With PTSD

Abstract: The findings show that our model of psychodynamic group therapy is associated with mental improvements in Veterans with PTSD. However, further randomized controlled trials are recommended to establish the advantages of our therapeutic method compared to other modes of therapy.

Cited by 12 publications

References 40 publications

Symptom structure of PTSD and co-morbid depressive symptoms – a network analysis of combat veteran patients

Symptom structure of PTSD and co-morbid depressive symptoms – a network analysis of combat veteran patients

The process and outcome of psychodynamic psychotherapy for pregnancy after loss: A case study analysis.

Untitled

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About