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ETD Abstract Container

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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Use of Cognitive Behavioral Coping Skills: Before and After a Residential Treatment Program

Van Goda, Kimberly L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392061195

Abstract Details

2001, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Multiple studies now exist which examine the efficacy of the Department of Veteran Affairs inpatient treatment programs for combat veterans with chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Overall, these studies indicate that the veterans’ symptomatology improves slightly at the completion of treatment, but the improvements are not sustained over time. The present study examined veterans with chronic combat- related PTSD admitted to a six-week residential treatment program. PTSD and comorbid symptomatology were measured at intake, upon completion of the program, and three months post-treatment. In addition, the study looked at whether or not the veterans begin to apply a set of cognitive-behavioral coping skills taught in the program’s psychoeducational series and how the application of skills correlates with symptomatology. The findings from this outcome study differed from those of previous VA PTSD treatment program studies in that there was no significant improvement in the veterans' symptomatology from admission to discharge. Surprisingly, however, symptomatology decreased between discharge and the three-month follow-up period. Results also showed that the veterans admitted to the program significantly increased their overall use of sleep and depression coping skills, slightly improved use of anger management skills, but did not increase use of anxiety coping skills suggesting that the treatment program is an effective starting point for teaching veterans how to manage some of PTSD’s comorbid symptomatology although not necessarily the anxiety or intrusive symptoms of chronic combat-related PTSD. Exploratory correlational analyses between use of the coping skills and severity of symptoms indicate a positive relationship between increased use of coping skills and lower symptomatology. Being service connected for PTSD was evaluated as a moderator variable with results showing an interaction between PTSD service connection and change in symptoms. Veterans who were service connected for PTSD had higher levels of symptomatology at admission to treatment. By the end of treatment, however, non-service connected veterans showed an increase in PTSD symptoms while those who were service connected tended to show a decrease in PTSD symptoms. Finally, the effects of race and education were examined finding no significant difference between race or education and symptomatology.
Lyle D. Schmidt (Advisor)
Don M. Dell (Advisor)
Pamela S. Highlen (Committee Member)
Terry A. Carlson (Committee Member)
79 p.
Psychology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Van Goda, K. L. (2001). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Use of Cognitive Behavioral Coping Skills: Before and After a Residential Treatment Program [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392061195

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Van Goda, Kimberly. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Use of Cognitive Behavioral Coping Skills: Before and After a Residential Treatment Program. 2001. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392061195.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Van Goda, Kimberly. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Use of Cognitive Behavioral Coping Skills: Before and After a Residential Treatment Program." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2001. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392061195

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1392061195
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© 2001, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.