UCLA Couples Counseling for Combat Veterans

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A pilot intervention of an existing intervention adapted for the returning warfighter population: a couples treatment for PTSD, Structured Approach Therapy (SAT), which emphasizes reducing the PTSD avoidance/numbing symptoms that are corrosive in families.

Official Title
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UCLA Welcome Back Veterans Family Resilience Center Couples Counseling for Combat Veterans

Conditions
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PTSD, Recent Era Combat Veteran, Couples Communication

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Structured Approach Therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: OIF/OEF/ OND veteran with at least one deployment In a cohabitating relationship for 6 months or longer Cohabitating 50% of the time or more Diagnosed with PTSD or meets the diagnosis criteria for PTSD as related to deployment experience (CAPS) Ability to make weekly appointments Willingness to commit to change Exclusion Criteria: Receiving an evidence-based treatment for PTSD within the past 6 months Receiving couples therapy within the last 6 months Moderate or excessive physical violence within the past 3 months (CTS) Alcohol/substance dependence (SCID) Known domestic violence/abuse (CTS) Symptoms of psychosis within the past 3 months Unstable psychiatric medicine usage or on regimen less than 3 months

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Waitlisted Intervention<br>Couple will be consented, assessed and randomized to a waitlist of 4 months. The couple will be reassessed at 8 weeks and prior to initiating intervention. | Behavioral: Structured Approach Therapy<br>* The SAT treatment is provided in 12 weekly 50-minute sessions and is fully manualized. First, couple-based exposure techniques are used to address anxiety about intimacy, increasing the traumatized person's ability to engage in social and relational behaviors that promote bonding and satisfaction. Second, as anxiety decreases, couple-based techniques are also used to increase the positive experiences the couple is having. These activities expose the traumatized person to positive feelings instead of anxiety, so that he/she may become desensitized to the anxiety caused by the closeness, and more comfortable engaging in intimate behaviors.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Immediate Intervention<br>Eligible couples who are randomized to immediate intervention will begin sessions with a trained interventionist within weeks of consent and initial assessments | Behavioral: Structured Approach Therapy<br>* The SAT treatment is provided in 12 weekly 50-minute sessions and is fully manualized. First, couple-based exposure techniques are used to address anxiety about intimacy, increasing the traumatized person's ability to engage in social and relational behaviors that promote bonding and satisfaction. Second, as anxiety decreases, couple-based techniques are also used to increase the positive experiences the couple is having. These activities expose the traumatized person to positive feelings instead of anxiety, so that he/she may become desensitized to the anxiety caused by the closeness, and more comfortable engaging in intimate behaviors.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improved couples communication as measured by standardized assessments |  | 4-6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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OEF, PTSD, Couples, Combat Veteran, Warfighter, OIF, OND, Structured Approach Therapy, Trauma