An Examination of Social Support and PTSD Treatment Response During Prolonged Exposure

Abstract

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results from exposure to traumatic events. Social support is negatively related to PTSD symptoms in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. It is unclear, however, if social support is associated with treatment response for PTSD. The current study evaluated the extent to which social support was associated with PTSD treatment response among treatment-seeking veterans receiving prolonged exposure (PE). It was hypothesized that social support would improve PTSD treatment response and that PTSD symptom reduction would improve social support. Method: A total of 123 veterans were recruited from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and evaluated for PTSD, diagnostic-related symptoms, and social support. All participants received PE. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects models. Results: Findings suggested that elevated social support during treatment was associated with greater reductions in PTSD symptoms during treatment. Social support also increased during treatment. Increases in social support were not moderated by PTSD symptoms during treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that social support and PTSD symptoms are related throughout treatment. Social support moderated the change in PTSD symptoms, whereas PTSD symptoms did not moderate changes in social support.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Sciences Research and Development grant (HX00152; PI: Acierno) and by the South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research (SCTR) Institute, with an academic home at the Medical University of South Carolina (NIH/NCATS grant number UL1 TR001450). Matthew Price, Katherine van Stolk-Cooke, and Alison C. Legrand are supported by a National Institute of Mental Health grant (MH 1K08MH107661-01A; PI: Price). Daniel F. Gros is supported by a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development grant (CX000845).

Notes on contributors

Matthew Price

Matthew Price, Alison C. Legrand, and Katherine van Stolk-Cooke are affiliated with the Center for Research on Emotion, Stress, and Technology, Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, in Burlington, Vertmont. Cynthia Luethcke Lancaster and Daniel F. Gros are affiliated with the Mental Health Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Charleston, South Carolina; and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, South Carolina. Ron Acierno is affiliated with the Mental Health Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Charleston, South Carolina; and the College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, South Carolina.