https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-TandH2021

Thompson-Hollands, J., Lee, D. J., & Sloan, D. M. (2021). The use of a brief family intervention to reduce dropout among veterans in individual trauma-focused treatment: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 34(4), 829 – 839. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22680

The Brief Family Intervention (BFI) is a two-session therapeutic intervention for partners of Veterans already receiving treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). BFI provides partners with education on PTSD, treatment, and accommodation behaviors. This study examined whether BFI may reduce dropout, Veterans’ PTSD symptoms, and partners’ accommodation behaviors as well as enhance partners’ perceptions about treatment (i.e., satisfaction, helpfulness). Couples (i.e., a male Veteran receiving PTSD therapy and their female partner) were randomly assigned to either participate in BFI (n = 10) or a control group (n = 10), and data were collected at baseline and at 6-, 12-, and 16-week follow-ups. Although more research is required, findings suggest BFI may be an acceptable intervention for partners of Veterans.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22680

Couples
Mental health
Programming
Trauma
Veterans

Multiple branches

Veteran

Spouse of service member or veteran
Veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Longitudinal Study
Quantitative Study

Thompson-Hollands, Johanna, Lee, Daniel J., Sloan, Denise M.

Dropout from trauma-focused treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) represents a daunting challenge for the field, particularly among military and veteran samples. Family involvement may help to increase the effectiveness of PTSD treatment while also improving retention. We tested a two-session brief family intervention (BFI) protocol delivered as an adjunct to individual trauma-focused treatment among a sample of 20 veteran–family member dyads (N = 40). Willingness to participate in the family-inclusive protocol was high, with over 85% of veterans and family members who were screened agreeing to take part. All enrolled veterans were beginning a course of either cognitive processing therapy (CPT) or prolonged exposure (PE), delivered in outpatient Veterans Affairs clinics. Family members were randomized to either receive or not receive the BFI from study clinicians. In the BFI condition, 20.0% of veterans dropped out of CPT/PE before the 16-week study end; the remainder were either still attending on-protocol sessions or had completed the full protocol. In the control condition, 40.0% of veterans dropped out of CPT/PE before the end of the study. Observed significant, large-magnitude decreases in PTSD symptoms over time did not differ by condition, ESsg range = −1.12 to −2.04. Accommodation did not significantly decrease over time in either condition, ESsg range = 0.18 to −0.98. The BFI represents a promising option for veterans, family members, and clinicians who are seeking a brief, feasible, narrowly focused method for incorporating families into veterans’ individual trauma-focused therapy and potentially reducing the rate of dropout.

John Wiley & Sons

Article
REACH Publication

National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Behavioral Science Division, JTH
Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University, JTH