Outcome of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in a primary care unit serving Vietnam veterans

J Trauma Stress. 1994 Apr;7(2):195-216. doi: 10.1007/BF02102944.

Abstract

Veterans diagnosed with PTSD (PTSD in-treatment, N = 39), newly admitted to a comprehensive 90-day inpatient treatment program, were tracked at 4-week intervals from admission to discharge. Two control groups were also tracked over 12-week periods--one of previously PTSD diagnosed and treated veterans (PTSD out-of-treatment, N = 26), and a second that combined non-PTSD Vietnam era veterans (N = 17) and non-veterans (N = 16) (non-PTSD nontreatment). As measured by the Penn Inventory for PTSD, 48% of those who completed treatment showed some or substantial gains, 39% showed no gain, and 13% reported some increase in symptoms at the time of discharge. Several patterns were observed on other assessment measures. One year follow-up for those who completed treatment showed a return to pretreatment levels on the PTSD symptom measures employed in this study. These results are discussed in relation to other treatment program outcome studies as a baseline for further research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Behavior Therapy
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marital Status
  • Primary Health Care*
  • Psychological Tests
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / rehabilitation
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Veterans / psychology*
  • Vietnam