engleski

Psychotherapeutic treatment program for posttraumatic stress disorder : prospective study of 70 war veterans

To assess the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic model of treatment of war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), by evaluating the symptoms of PTSD, associated neurotic symptoms, ways of coping with stress, and indicators of quality of life and depressiveness. Prospective cohort study included 77 war veterans who took part in a psychotherapeutic model of treatment lasting 40 weeks. On each visit, there were three types of group sessions: socio-therapeutic, psycho-educative, and trauma-focused groups. Groups consisted of 10-12 veterans, and each session lasted 60 minutes. Mississippi scale for PTSD was used for assessing the intensity of PTSD, Crown-Crisp Index for neurotic symptoms, Inventory of dispositional and situational coping with stress for ways of coping with stress, Quality of Life Scale for indicators of quality of life, and Beck Depression Inventory for depression at the beginning and the end of psychotherapeutic program. Seventy veterans finished the whole course of treatment. After the completed psychotherapeutic treatment program, there was an increase in problem-oriented coping with stress (t=-2.073, p=0.042), and coping by avoidance (t=-2.803, p=0.007). BDI scores at the end of treatment were significantly lower than at the beginning (t=4.563, p=0.000). There were no significant changes in symptoms of PTSD (t=1.730, p=0.088), neurotic symptoms and scores on the QLS (t=-1.825, p=0.072). Revealing and working through the traumatic events facilitated gradual ending of the process of pathologic grief, which resulted in reduction of depression. Other therapeutic factors (altruism, giving hope, developing social skills) contributed to the achieved therapeutic effects.

combat ; outcome ; group psychotherapy ; depression ; quality of life

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