Abstract
Eighty-one Vietnam-era Veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to either Group-Based Exposure Therapy (GBET) or Present-Centered Group Therapy (PCGT) and assessed blind to treatment condition at post, four months, and one year posttreatment. Both treatments lasted 16 weeks and groups met twice per week in cohorts of 10. GBET includes sharing and reviewing trauma narratives. PCGT included problem solving while avoiding traumatic material. Both treatments produced similar significant lasting reductions in PTSD with few dropouts (10%). GBET produced significantly greater improvement on measures of spirituality, personal meaning, and PTSD-related cognitions. Half of participants seemed to be exaggerating symptoms.
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Notes on contributors
David J. Ready
David J. Ready, PhD, is a staff psychologist with the Trauma Recovery Program of the Atlanta VA Medical Center. He is also an assistant professor in the Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Nathan Mascaro
Nathan Mascaro, PhD, ABPP, is a staff psychologist with the Trauma Recovery Program of the Atlanta VA Medical Center and an assistant professor in the Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Melissa S. Wattenberg
Melissa S. Wattenberg, PhD, is the program manager and supervisory psychologist in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center at the VA Boston Healthcare System and an assistant professor in the Boston University Department of Psychiatry
Patrick Sylvers
Patrick Sylvers, PhD, is a staff psychologist at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and an assistant professor at the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Virginia Worley
Virginia Worley was an LCSW with the Trauma Recovery Program of the Atlanta VA Medical Center for 13 years and retired from public service in 2016.
Bekh Bradley-Davino
Bekh Bradley-Davino, PhD, is the chief of the Mental Health Service Line of the Atlanta VA Medical Center and an assistant professor in the Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.