Exploring Outcome Predictors in UK Veterans Treated for PTSD

Abstract

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in ex-service personnel is associated with high levels of co-morbidity and significant functional impairment. This paper reports on predictors of treatment outcomes in UK veterans with PTSD. The sample for the study consisted of 244 participants who had received a standardised six week residential treatment programme for PTSD. The programme consisted of individual trauma-focused CBT and group therapy sessions. In this paper, evidence is presented that shows improvements in intrusive, avoidance and hyper-arousal PTSD symptoms six months after the end of treatment; with post-treatment avoidance PTSD symptoms showing the most improvements. The findings suggest that higher levels of baseline anxiety and dissociation are associated with worse post-treatment PTSD outcomes. This suggests the importance of treating these difficulties in UK veterans before intervening for symptoms of PTSD.