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IIR 11-306 – HSR Study

 
IIR 11-306
Improving PTSD Service Delivery for Veterans with Severe Mental Illness
Anouk L. Grubaugh, PhD MA BS
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC
Funding Period: April 2012 - December 2016
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Rates of trauma and PTSD are higher among individuals with severe mental illness (SMI; i.e., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) relative to the general population. Trauma, particularly sexual victimization, and PTSD are also strongly correlated with psychiatric difficulties, decreased quality of life, and increased service use in this population. Despite the high rate of PTSD, and its clear negative impact on functioning among individuals with SMI, there are few empirical data on how to effectively treat trauma related symptoms in this patient population. This is due in large part to the historical exclusion of individuals with SMI from PTSD clinical trials. Within clinical settings as well, however, clinicians are reluctant to treat trauma and PTSD among their patients with SMI for fear of exacerbating their primary symptoms. As such, most individuals with SMI do not participate in trauma/PTSD research, are not treated for their trauma/PTSD symptoms within the public sector settings where they are cared for, and as such, continue to suffer from PTSD related symptoms and distress. This issue is particularly salient for Veterans who typically suffer from high rates of trauma exposure, PTSD, and psychiatric comorbidity relative to the general population.


OBJECTIVE(S):
The primary objectives of this study are to compare Prolonged Exposure for PTSD (PE) plus treatment as usual (TAU) relative to TAU alone across relevant health services outcomes such as a) clinical symptoms of PTSD; b) indices of quality of life and social adjustment; c) process outcomes, such as treatment credibility, satisfaction with services, therapeutic alliance, and treatment adherence; and d) cost indices. Some additional objectives are to a) determine the impact of PE+TAU on the primary symptoms of severe mental illness (i.e., psychosis, unipolar and/or bipolar depressive symptoms) relative to TAU alone and b) to determine if clinical, quality of life, and process variables (i.e., health services variables) vary by rural/urban living status, race, gender, and/ or primary diagnosis of severe mental illness. Collectively, these data will establish a clear standard of care for Veterans with PTSD and SMI who are treated within VA healthcare settings.

METHODS:
To achieve the above objectives, we will conduct a randomized controlled trial comparing PE+TAU to TAU alone across critical health services outcomes. Specifically, we will enroll 156 (n=78 per group) ethnically diverse male and female Veterans with PTSD and a diagnosis of SMI (i.e., a psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or severe depression) from the Charleston VA catchment area. Recruitment and consent will take place at the Charleston VA or affiliated community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). Veterans will be randomized to PE+TAU or TAU alone and evaluated at post, 3, and 6 months. Veterans in the PE+TAU condition will receive12 sessions of PE at the Charleston VA in addition to the regular standard of care for Veterans with SMI (TAU; i.e., case management services, psychotropic medication management). Participants will be > 21 with PTSD and SMI. Veterans with a recent history of psychiatric hospitalization or suicidal intent and/or who have active substance abuse/dependence will be excluded from participation.


FINDINGS/RESULTS:
3/13/2013, no additional findings at this time.
3/17/2014, no additional findings at this time.
3/27/2015, no additional findings at this time.
6/29/2016, no additional findings at this time.
3/31/2017, no additional findings at this time. Preliminary data analysis of primary outcomes is in progress.

IMPACT:
As in the general population, there is no clear standard of care within Veterans Affairs Medical Centers for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals with severe forms of mental illness. This is a considerable issue because trauma, PTSD, and psychiatric comorbidity are particularly common among Veterans and such comorbidity clearly exacerbates the overall course and severity of mental illness. This study is significant in that it proposes to establish the efficacy of a frontline intervention for PTSD, Prolonged Exposure, in Veterans treated within the VA healthcare system. In this regard, data from this project will be used to establish a clear, and much needed, clinical course of action for severely mentally ill Veterans suffering from PTSD.

3/13/2013, no additional information to add at this time.

3/17/2014, no additional information to add at this time.

3/27/2015, no additional information to add at this time.

6/29/2016, no additional information to add at this time.

3/31/2017, no additional information to add at this time.


External Links for this Project

NIH Reporter

Grant Number: I01HX000815-01
Link: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8278139

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PUBLICATIONS:

Journal Articles

  1. Brown WJ, Wilkerson AK, Milanak ME, Tuerk PW, Uhde TW, Cortese BM, Grubaugh AL. An examination of sleep quality in veterans with a dual diagnosis of PTSD and severe mental illness. Psychiatry Research. 2017 Jan 1; 247:15-20. [view]
  2. Grubaugh AL, Clapp JD, Frueh BC, Tuerk PW, Knapp RG, Egede LE. Open trial of exposure therapy for PTSD among patients with severe and persistent mental illness. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2016 Mar 1; 78:1-12. [view]
  3. Grubaugh AL, Tuerk PW, Egede LE, Frueh BC. Perceptions of PTSD research participation among patients with severe mental illness. Psychiatry Research. 2012 Dec 30; 200(2-3):1071-3. [view]
Book Chapters

  1. Grubaugh AL. Trauma and stress-related disorders. In: Beidel DC, Frueh BC, Hersen M, editors. Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis. 7th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; 2014. Chapter 10. 20 p. [view]
  2. Grubaugh AL. Trauma and stress-related disorders. In: Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis. 7 ed. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc; 2015. Chapter 10. 387-406 p. [view]
VA Cyberseminars

  1. Grubaugh AL. Assessing and treating PTSD in Veterans with a psychotic disorder. National webinar lecture for the National Center for PTSD, Dissemination and Training Division. [Cyberseminar]. 2014 Jul 1. [view]
  2. Grubaugh AL. Assessing and treating PTSD in Veterans with a psychotic disorder: National webinar lecture for VA MHS and the VHA Employee Education System. [Cyberseminar]. 2013 Oct 1. [view]
Conference Presentations

  1. Grubaugh AL, Knapp RG, Ellis C, Veronee K. Reactions to Exposure Therapy for PTSD Among Patients with Schizophrenia. Poster session presented at: VA HSR&D / QUERI National Meeting; 2015 Jul 8; Philadelphia, PA. [view]


DRA: Mental, Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders
DRE: Treatment - Efficacy/Effectiveness Clinical Trial
Keywords: none
MeSH Terms: none

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