Randomized clinical trial pilot study of prolonged exposure versus present centred affect regulation therapy for PTSD and anger problems with male military combat veterans

• NCJ Number: 255691
• Author(s): J. D. Ford
• Date Published: 2018
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2009-D1-BX-0299
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

This article reports on a randomized controlled trial pilot study with 31 U.S. male military recent combat veterans with PTSD and severe anger problems that compared 10 session individual therapy versions of Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET) with prolonged exposure (PE).

Abstract

This comparative study found that TARGET had fewer drop-outs than PE (29 percent vs. 64 percent). At post-test, improvements were found for both interventions in increased emotion regulation and hope, and reduced PTSD symptoms, hostility, experiential avoidance, and mental health problems. At a 4 month follow-up, comparable proportions (approximately 40 percent) of recipients in each therapy maintained clinically significant gains. Self-rated expectancy of therapeutic outcome and working alliance was comparable for both PE and TARGET early in therapy, at mid-treatment, and at the end of treatment. Although preliminary, these results suggest that TARGET may be a viable therapeutic option for male military veterans with PTSD and anger problems. (Publisher abstract modified)