Craig S. Rosen, Ph.D.

All Publications

• Clinic-Level Predictors of Psychotherapy Dosage in the Military Health System. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) McLean, C. P., Fong, C., Haddock, C. K., Cook, J., Peterson, A. L., Riggs, D. S., Young-McCaughan, S., Conforte, A. M., Flores, A., Jinkerson, J., Jones, Z. K., Kim, H. J., Link, J. S., Nofziger, D., Ringdahl, E. N., Woodworth, C., McCullen, J., Ho, E., Rosen, C. S. 2024: appips20240180

  Abstract

  This study aimed to describe the demand for, supply of, and clinic processes associated with behavioral health care delivery in the Military Health System and to examine the clinic-level factors associated with receipt of a minimally adequate dosage of psychotherapy.This retrospective study used administrative behavioral health data from eight military treatment facilities (N=25,433 patients; N=241,028 encounters) that were participating in a larger implementation study of evidence-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Minimally adequate dosage of psychotherapy was defined in two ways: at least three sessions within a 90-day period and at least six sessions within a 90-day period. The authors then used a path model to examine clinic-level factors hypothesized to predict psychotherapy dosage, including care demand, supply, and processes.Patients had an average of 2.5 psychotherapy appointments per quarter. Wait times for intake, between intake and the first psychotherapy session, and between follow-up sessions all averaged 17 days or longer. Path modeling showed that a higher patient-to-encounter ratio was associated with a longer wait time between follow-up psychotherapy appointments. In turn, a longer wait time between appointments was associated with a lower probability of receiving an adequate dosage of psychotherapy. However, a greater proportion of care delivered in groups was associated with a greater probability of receiving at least six sessions of psychotherapy.Receipt of a minimally adequate dosage of psychotherapy in the Military Health System is hindered by clinic staffing and workflows that increase wait times between follow-up psychotherapy appointments.

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.20240180

  View details for PubMedID 39497528

• Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to evaluate the written exposure therapy training program in the Veterans Health Administration. Psychological services LoSavio, S. T., Worley, C. B., Walser, R. D., Kaysen, D., Rosen, C. S., Wiltsey Stirman, S. 2024

  Abstract

  The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has rolled out evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, reach has remained low, and there is a need for briefer interventions. The National Center for PTSD conducted a facilitated learning collaborative to train clinicians and support VHA PTSD teams in their adoption of an emerging best practice, written exposure therapy (WET). Guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) evaluation framework, the present study utilized longitudinal data from 178 clinicians and 556 patients across seven training cohorts to evaluate key clinical and implementation outcomes and whether clinic (i.e., implementation climate) or clinician factors (i.e., treatment attitudes) were associated with effectiveness and implementation. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated WET was effective in reducing PTSD (d = 0.54) and depression symptoms (d = 0.39). Data indicated that 87.60% of clinicians reported using WET 6 months postconsultation. Clinic-wide reach was modest after training (14.53% of individuals with PTSD); however, WET-trained clinicians continued to offer WET to an average of 87.38% of their patients. Fidelity remained high after training, with essential session elements most often being offered "always" (M = 6.65 on a scale from 1 to 7). More positive postconsultation clinician treatment attitudes predicted higher posttraining rates of having patients engaged in WET. Clinician treatment attitudes and implementation climate did not predict any other implementation or effectiveness outcomes examined. Results suggest that WET implementation is advancing in VHA, with good clinical outcomes. Data provide evidence that a facilitated learning collaborative can be used to support and scale EBPs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000890

  View details for PubMedID 39361397

• Clinician Burnout and Effectiveness of Guideline-Recommended Psychotherapies. JAMA network open Sayer, N. A., Kaplan, A., Nelson, D. B., Wiltsey Stirman, S., Rosen, C. S. 2024; 7 (4): e246858

  Abstract

  Clinician burnout has been associated with clinician outcomes, but the association with patient outcomes remains unclear.To evaluate the association between clinician burnout and the outcomes of patients receiving of guideline-recommended trauma-focused psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).This cohort study was set at the US Veterans Affairs Health Care System and included licensed therapists who provided trauma-focused psychotherapies and responded to an online survey between May 2 and October 8, 2019, and their patients who initiated a trauma-focused therapy during the following year. Patient data were collected through December 31, 2020. Data were analyzed from May to September 2023.Therapists completing the survey reported burnout with a 5-point validated measure taken from the Physician Worklife Study. Burnout was defined as scores of 3 or more.The primary outcome was patients' clinically meaningful improvement in PTSD symptoms according to the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition). Patient dropout, therapist adherence, and session spacing was assessed through electronic health records. Multivariable random-effects logistic regression examined the association of therapist burnout and clinically meaningful improvement, adjusted for case-mix.In this study, 165 of 180 (91.7%) therapists (89 [53.9%] female) completed the burnout measure and provided trauma-focused psychotherapies to 1268 patients (961 [75.8%] male) with outcome data. Fifty-eight (35.2%) therapists endorsed burnout. One third of patients (431 [34.0%]) met criterion for clinically meaningful improvement. Clinically meaningful improvement in PTSD symptoms was experienced by 120 (28.3%) of the 424 patients seen by therapists who reported burnout and 311 (36.8%) of the 844 patients seen by therapists without burnout. Burnout was associated with lower odds of clinically meaningful improvement (adjusted odds ratio [OR],0.63; 95% CI, 0.48-0.85). The odds of clinically meaningful improvement were reduced for patients who dropped out (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.11-0.20) and had greater session spacing (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.92). Therapist adherence was not associated with therapy effectiveness. Adjusting for dropout or session spacing did not meaningfully alter the magnitude of the association between burnout and clinically meaningful improvement.In this prospective cohort study, therapist burnout was associated with reduced effectiveness of trauma-focused psychotherapies. Studying when and how burnout affects patient outcomes may inform workplace interventions.

  View details for DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.6858

  View details for PubMedID 38630477

• The Role of Therapy Delivery and Clinic Organizational Factors in Explaining Therapist Effects for Trauma-Focused Psychotherapies in the Veterans Health Administration JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Sayer, N. A., Stirman, S., Rosen, C. S., Kehle-Forbes, S., Spoont, M. R., Eftekhari, A., Chard, K. M., Kaplan, A., Nelson, D. B. 2023; 91 (11): 665-679

  Abstract

  This study estimated the size of therapist effects (TEs) for dropout and clinical effectiveness of two trauma-focused psychotherapies (TFPs) and evaluated whether therapy delivery and clinic organizational factors explained observed TEs.Participants were 180 therapists (54.4% psychologists, 42.2% social workers) from 137 Veterans Health Administration facilities and 1,735 patients (24.7% women; 27.2% people of color) who completed at least two TFP sessions. Outcomes were dropout (< 8 TFP sessions) and for a subsample (n = 1,273), clinically meaningful improvement and recovery based on posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) scores. Therapist-level predictors were ascertained through survey, manual chart review, and administrative data. Multilevel models estimated TEs.Over half (51.2%) of patients dropped out and those who dropped out were less likely to meet criteria for clinically meaningful improvement or recovery (ps < .001). Adjusting for case-mix and TFP type, therapists accounted for 5.812% (p < .001) of the unexplained variance in dropout. The average dropout rate for the 45 therapists in the top performing quartile was 27.0%, while the average dropout rate for the 45 therapists in the bottom performing quartile was 78.8%. Variation between therapists was reduced to 2.031% (p = .140) when therapists' mean of days between sessions, adherence, implementation climate, and caseload were added to multilevel models. TEs were nonsignificant for clinically meaningful improvement and recovery.Interventions targeting therapy delivery and clinic organization have the potential to reduce variation between therapists in TFP dropout, so that more patients stay engaged long enough to experience clinical benefit. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ccp0000832

  View details for Web of Science ID 001080745600004

  View details for PubMedID 37668578

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10592522

• A Randomized Clinical Trial of Clinician-Supported PTSD Coach in VA Primary Care Patients. Journal of general internal medicine Possemato, K., Johnson, E., Barrie, K., Ghaus, S., Noronha, D., Wade, M., Greenbaum, M. A., Rosen, C., Cloitre, M., Owen, J., Jain, S., Beehler, G., Prins, A., Seal, K., Kuhn, E. 2023

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in primary care patients; however, evidence-based treatments are typically only available in specialty mental healthcare settings and often not accessed.OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of a brief primary care-based treatment, Clinician-Supported PTSD Coach (CS PTSD Coach) was compared with Primary Care Mental Health Integration-Treatment as Usual (PCMHI-TAU) in (1) reducing PTSD severity, (2) engaging veterans in specialty mental health care, and (3) patient satisfaction with care.DESIGN: Multi-site randomized pragmatic clinical trial.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 234 veterans with PTSD symptoms who were not currently accessing PTSD treatment.INTERVENTION: CS PTSD Coach was designed to be implemented in Veterans Affairs PCMHI and combines mental health clinician support with the "PTSD Coach" mobile app. Four 30-min sessions encourage daily use of symptom management strategies.MAIN MEASURES: PTSD severity was measured by clinician-rated interviews pre- and post-treatment (8weeks). Self-report measures assessed PTSD, depression, and quality of life at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 16- and 24-week follow-ups, and patient satisfaction at post-treatment. Mental healthcare utilization was extracted from medical records.KEY RESULTS: Clinician-rated PTSD severity did not differ by condition at post-treatment. CS PTSD Coach participants improved more on patient-reported PTSD severity at post-treatment than TAU participants (D=.28, p=.021). Coach participants who continued to have problematic PTSD symptoms at post-treatment were not more likely to engage in 2 sessions of specialty mental health treatment than TAU participants. Coach participants engaged in 74% more sessions in the intervention and reported higher treatment satisfaction than TAU participants (p<.001).CONCLUSIONS: A structured 4-session intervention designed to align with patient preferences for care resulted in more patient-reported PTSD symptom relief, greater utilization of mental health treatment, and overall treatment satisfaction than TAU, but not more clinician-rated PTSD symptom relief or engagement in specialty mental health.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11606-023-08130-6

  View details for PubMedID 36932268

• Virtual mental health care in the Veterans Health Administration's immediate response to coronavirus disease-19. The American psychologist Rosen, C. S., Morland, L. A., Glassman, L. H., Marx, B. P., Weaver, K. n., Smith, C. A., Pollack, S. n., Schnurr, P. P. 2021; 76 (1): 26–38

  Abstract

  The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the need for psychological care in the global population and has created new barriers to accessing services. Hospitals, mental health facilities, and other clinics face the challenge of providing continued care to a population that is under severe stress, while minimizing in-person visits that risk spreading the virus. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,286 sites. VHA ensured the continuity of mental health services after the COVID-19 outbreak by rapidly expanding its use of telemental health methods in the first weeks after the U.S. pandemic outbreak. VHA provided nearly 1.2 million telephone and video encounters to veterans in April 2020 and reduced in-person visits by approximately 80% when compared with the October 2019 to February 2020 period before the pandemic. By June 2020, VHA had an 11-fold increase in encounters using direct-to-home video and a fivefold increase in telephone contacts relative to before the pandemic. This article discusses research on the effectiveness of telemental health, VHA policies before COVID-19 that facilitated the use of telemental health systemwide, and VHA's actions that rapidly scaled use of telemental health during the first months of the outbreak. Key challenges and lessons learned from VHA's experience and implications for providers and health care systems regarding the use of telemental health to meet patients' mental health care needs during the pandemic are also discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/amp0000751

  View details for PubMedID 33119331

• Context Matters: Team and Organizational Factors Associated with Reach of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for PTSD in the Veterans Health Administration. Administration and policy in mental health Sayer, N. A., Rosen, C. S., Bernardy, N. C., Cook, J. M., Orazem, R. J., Chard, K. M., Mohr, D. C., Kehle-Forbes, S. M., Eftekhari, A., Crowley, J., Ruzek, J. I., Smith, B. N., Schnurr, P. P. 2017; 44 (6): 904-918

  Abstract

  Evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD are often underused. The objective of this mixed-method study was to identify organizational and clinic factors that promote high levels of reach of evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD 10 years into their dissemination throughout the Veterans Health Administration. We conducted 96 individual interviews with staff from ten outpatient PTSD teams at nine sites that differed in reach of evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD. Major themes associated with reach included clinic mission, clinic leader and staff engagement, clinic operations, staff perceptions, and the practice environment. Strategies to improve reach of evidence-based psychotherapies should attend to organizational and team-level factors.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10488-017-0809-y

  View details for PubMedID 28597238

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5640758

• Factors Associated With Increased Substance Use Disorder Care in VA PTSD Specialty Outpatient Treatment. Journal of dual diagnosis Tiet, Q. Q., Davis, L., Rosen, C., Norman, S. B., Leyva, Y. E., Duong, H. 2024: 1-13

  Abstract

  Objective: Substance use disorders (SUDs) commonly co-occur with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding PTSD clinics that serve higher percentages of patients with PTSD/SUD is crucial for improving SUD care in clinics with lower percentages of such patients. This study examined the differences between Veterans Affairs (VA) PTSD treatment sites with higher percentages ("High%") and lower percentages ("Low%") of patients with PTSD/SUD as well as exploring the roles of the PTSD/SUD specialists. Methods: The study collected quantitative and qualitative data from 18 clinic directors and 21 specialists from 33 VA PTSD specialty outpatient clinics from 2014 to 2016. The clinics were chosen from the top and bottom quartiles based on two criteria: (1) the percentage of patients with PTSD/SUD and (2) the percentage of patients with PTSD/SUD who completed at least three SUD visits within the first month of their SUD treatment. The interviews sought to identify distinguishing characteristics between the High% and Low% clinics in terms of treatment access and practices for patients with PTSD/SUD. Results: More of the High% clinics reported providing evidence-based, patient-centered, and integrated/concurrent PTSD/SUD treatment and had staff members with more up-to-date knowledge and skills than the Low% clinics. We also found the roles of the PTSD/SUD specialists were demanding and confusing, leading to high turnover rates. Conclusions: The two groups of PTSD clinics differed in three key factors: Resources, knowledge and skills of staff members, and local policies. Future research should focus on addressing resource limitations, knowledge gaps, and local policy disparities in Low% clinics. By emulating the practices of High% clinics, VA PTSD clinics can improve SUD care for patients with PTSD/SUD.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/15504263.2024.2348105

  View details for PubMedID 38710212

• Mental Health Apps and US Military Veterans: Perceived Importance and Utilization of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder App Portfolio PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Jaworski, B. K., Ramsey, K. M., Taylor, K., Heinz, A. J., Senti, S., Mackintosh, M., Rosen, C. S., Owen, J. E., Pietrzak, R. H. 2023

  Abstract

  U.S. veterans have historically experienced more mental health concerns as compared to the general population, yet face a variety of barriers to accessing care. Evidence-based and accessible resources, such as mobile apps, are needed to respond to the unique needs of a diverse veteran population. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder has created a one-of-a-kind portfolio of mental health apps to target the needs of veterans and support the self-management of common concerns related to posttraumatic stress disorder. Using data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans, the present study sought to examine how veterans perceived the importance of making each self-management app available to other Veterans; factors impacting veterans' intent to try each app; and actual uptake of each app. Results revealed that while 46.7%-75.0% of veterans reported that the apps are important for veterans, 5.8%-19.2% reported that they would be likely to download the apps, and only 5.0% reported having ever used any of them. Veterans who used any of the apps were more likely to be employed, have served two or more deployments, be married or partnered, use the VA as their primary source of health care, had more medical conditions, and were less likely to identify as Black. With respect to future app use, Black veterans were to 2-5 times more likely than White veterans to indicate a desire to download each of the apps. Other variables that showed consistent associations with increased likelihood of app download included greater smartphone utilization, being married or having a partner, lower household income, and history of mental health treatment. Implications of these results for the broader dissemination of mental health apps and promotion of their uptake are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000806

  View details for Web of Science ID 001108488500001

  View details for PubMedID 37917475

• What Facilitates or Inhibits Posttraumatic Growth in Health Care Workers? CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY-SCIENCE AND PRACTICE Rosen, C. S., Tsai, J. 2023; 30 (3): 352-354

  View details for DOI 10.1037/cps0000168

  View details for Web of Science ID 001086510000017

• The role of symptom accommodation in trauma-focused treatment engagement and response. Journal of traumatic stress Howard, K. P., Spoont, M. R., Polusny, M. A., Eftekhari, A., Rosen, C. S., Meis, L. A. 2023

  Abstract

  Although trauma-focused treatments (TFTs) are generally effective, not all patients improve. Symptom accommodation (i.e., altering one's behavior in response to another's symptoms) by loved ones may be particularly relevant to TFT treatment response and engagement. We examined the role of symptom accommodation by support persons (SPs) in veterans' PTSD treatment response, including the mediating role of treatment engagement and the moderating role of relationship strain. Veterans engaging in prolonged exposure or cognitive processing therapy and a loved one (N = 172 dyads) were sampled at two time points approximately four months apart. Measures of treatment engagement (i.e., highest session completed from the treatment protocol and homework completion) were obtained from hospital records. We found that relationship strain moderated the effect of symptom accommodation on treatment response, ∆R2 = .02. Specifically, Time 1 (T1) accommodation predicted poorer treatment response (i.e., Time 2 [T2] PTSD symptom severity, controlling for T1 symptoms) among veterans who reported below-average relationship strain only. Additionally, symptom accommodation was indirectly related to treatment response such that T1 accommodation predicted higher T2 PTSD symptom severity specifically through reduced homework completion, beta = .01. The findings suggest that attending to accommodating behaviors of veterans' supportive partners may be an important way to boost both engagement in and response to TFTs for PTSD.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.22912

  View details for PubMedID 36782380

• Helping the Helpers: Adaptation and Evaluation of Stress First Aid for Healthcare Workers in the Veterans Health Administration During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Workplace health & safety McLean, C. P., Betsworth, D., Bihday, C., Daman, M. C., Davis, C. A., Kaysen, D., Rosen, C. S., Saxby, D., Smith, A. E., Spinelli, S., Watson, P. 2023: 21650799221148650

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Early interventions are needed to support the behavioral health of healthcare staff in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress First Aid (SFA) is a self-care and peer support model for reducing burnout and stress that is designed for use in high-stress occupations.METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of an SFA program in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This brief, multi-session, didactic program was adapted for hospital workgroups. Program attendees completed a survey assessing implementation outcomes, burnout, stress, mood, and SFA skills at the beginning (N = 246) and end (n = 94) of the SFA program and a subgroup (n = 11) completed qualitative feedback interviews.FINDINGS: Program acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility were rated highly. From pre- to post-SFA, the impact of the pandemic on stress and anxiety, as well as proficiency in supporting peers increased. Qualitative findings suggest the program provided a shared language to discuss stress, normalized stress reactions, met a need for stress management tools, and helped staff feel valued, empowered, connected with each other. Staff reported being more aware of their stress, but SFA was insufficient to address many of the systemic sources of burnout and stress.CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: While the SFA program was well received, the impact of brief programs is likely to be modest when implemented in the middle of an ongoing pandemic and when burnout arises from chiefly from systemic sources. Lessons learned during the program implementation that may guide future efforts are discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/21650799221148650

  View details for PubMedID 36726298

• Policy Recommendations for Increasing the Use of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Military Health System. Military medicine McLean, C. P., Cook, J., Riggs, D. S., Peterson, A. L., Young-McCaughan, S., Haddock, C. K., Rosen, C. S. 2023

  Abstract

  Few service members with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) receive evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) in the military health system (MHS). Efforts to increase EBP implementation have focused on provider training but have not adequately addressed organizational barriers. Thus, although behavioral health providers are trained in EBPs, clinic-, facility-, and system-level barriers preclude widespread EBP implementation. Building on work examining barriers to EBP use for PTSD across eight military treatment facilities, we propose recommendations for increasing the implementation of EBPs for PTSD and improving the quality of behavioral health care in MHS outpatient behavioral health clinics. Increasing the use of EBPs for PTSD will require that their use is supported and prioritized through MHS policy. We recommend that psychotherapy appointments are scheduled at least once weekly, as clinically indicated, as this frequency of care is prerequisite for EBP delivery. We propose several recommendations designed to increase system capacity for weekly psychotherapy, including improved triaging of potential patients, incentivizing and supporting group psychotherapy, matching the modality (i.e., group vs. individual) and frequency of treatment to patients' needs, and using behavioral health technicians as clinician extenders. Additional recommendations include providing ongoing support for EBP implementation (e.g., protected time to participate in EBP consultation) and matching patients to providers based on patient's clinical needs and treatment preferences. The barriers to EBP implementation that these recommendations target are interrelated. Therefore, adopting multiple policy recommendations is likely necessary to yield a meaningful and sustained increase in the implementation of EBPs for PTSD in the MHS.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/milmed/usac429

  View details for PubMedID 36617250

• The PTSD Family Coach App in Veteran Family Members: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR formative research van Stolk-Cooke, K., Wielgosz, J., Hallenbeck, H. W., Chang, A., Rosen, C., Owen, J., Kuhn, E. 2023; 7: e42053

  Abstract

  Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among US military veterans can adversely impact their concerned significant others (CSOs; eg, family members and romantic partners). Mobile apps can be tailored to support CSO mental health through psychoeducation, coping skills, and stress monitoring.This study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of PTSD Family Coach 1.0, a free, publicly available app that includes psychoeducation, stress management tools, self-assessments, and features for connecting to alternative supports, compared with a psychoeducation-only version of the app for cohabitating CSOs of veterans with PTSD.A total of 200 participants with an average age of 39 (SD 8.44) years, primarily female (193/200, 97%), and White (160/200, 80%) were randomized to self-guided use of either PTSD Family Coach 1.0 (n=104) or a psychoeducation-only app (n=96) for 4 weeks. Caregiver burden, stress, depression, anxiety, beliefs about treatment, CSO self-efficacy, and relationship functioning assessed using measures of dyadic adjustment, social constraints, and communication danger signs were administered via a web survey at baseline and after treatment. User satisfaction and app helpfulness were assessed after treatment. Data were analyzed using linear mixed methods.Overall, 50.5% (101/200) of randomized participants used their allocated app. Participants found PTSD Family Coach 1.0 somewhat satisfying (mean 4.88, SD 1.11) and moderately helpful (mean 2.99, SD 0.97) to use. Linear mixed effects models revealed no significant differences in outcomes by condition for caregiver burden (P=.45; Cohen d=0.1, 95% CI -0.2 to 0.4), stress (P=.64; Cohen d=0.1, 95% CI -0.4 to 0.6), depression (P=.93; Cohen d= 0.0, 95% CI -0.3 to 0.3), anxiety (P=.55; Cohen d=-0.1, 95% CI -0.4 to 0.2), beliefs about treatment (P=.71; Cohen d=0.1, 95% CI -0.2 to 0.3), partner self-efficacy (P=.59; Cohen d=-0.1, 95% CI -0.4 to 0.2), dyadic adjustment (P=.08; Cohen d=-0.2, 95% CI -0.5 to 0.0), social constraints (P=.05; Cohen d=0.3, 95% CI 0.0-0.6), or communication danger signs (P=.90; Cohen d=-0.0, 95% CI -0.3 to 0.3). Post hoc analyses collapsing across conditions revealed a significant between-group effect on stress for app users versus nonusers (β=-3.62; t281=-2.27; P=.02).Approximately half of the randomized participants never used their allocated app, and participants in the PTSD Family Coach 1.0 condition only opened the app approximately 4 times over 4 weeks, suggesting limitations to this app version's feasibility. PTSD Family Coach 1.0 users reported moderately favorable impressions of the app, suggesting preliminary acceptability. Regarding efficacy, no significant difference was found between PTSD Family Coach 1.0 users and psychoeducation app users across any outcome of interest. Post hoc analyses suggested that app use regardless of treatment condition was associated with reduced stress. Further research that improves app feasibility and establishes efficacy in targeting the domains most relevant to CSOs is warranted.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02486705; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02486705.

  View details for DOI 10.2196/42053

  View details for PubMedID 36602852

• Implementation context and burnout among Department of Veterans Affairs psychotherapists prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of affective disorders Rosen, C. S., Kaplan, A. N., Nelson, D. B., La Bash, H., Chard, K. M., Eftekhari, A., Kehle-Forbes, S., Stirman, S. W., Sayer, N. A. 2022

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: The first goal of this study was to assess longitudinal changes in burnout among psychotherapists prior to (T1) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (T2). The second objective was to assess the effects of job demands, job resources (including organizational support for evidence-based psychotherapies, or EBPs) and pandemic-related stress (T2 only) on burnout.METHOD: Psychotherapists providing EBPs for posttraumatic stress disorder in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities completed surveys assessing burnout, job resources, and job demands prior to (T1; n = 346) and during (T2; n = 193) the COVID-19 pandemic.RESULTS: Burnout prevalence increased from 40 % at T1 to 56 % at T2 (p < .001). At T1, stronger implementation climate and implementation leadership (p < .001) and provision of only cognitive processing therapy (rather than use of prolonged exposure therapy or both treatments; p < .05) reduced burnout risk. Risk factors for burnout at T2 included T1 burnout, pandemic-related stress, less control over when and how to deliver EBPs, being female, and being a psychologist rather than social worker (p < .02). Implementation leadership did not reduce risk of burnout at T2.LIMITATIONS: This study involved staff not directly involved in treating COVID-19, in a healthcare system poised to transition to telehealth delivery.CONCLUSION: Organizational support for using EBPs reduced burnout risk prior to but not during the pandemic. Pandemic related stress rather than increased work demands contributed to elevated burnout during the pandemic. A comprehensive approach to reducing burnout must address the effects of both work demands and personal stressors.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.141

  View details for PubMedID 36191645

• An Examination of Individual and Organizational Theory in a Pilot Virtual Facilitated Learning Collaborative to Implement Written Exposure Therapy PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Worley, C. B., Rosen, C. S., LoSavio, S. T., Aajmain, S. T., Stirman, S., Sloan, D. M. 2022

  Abstract

  Participant training alone is typically insufficient to ensure adoption of a new treatment. This study provides preliminary data on a pilot program that implemented written exposure therapy (WET) through a virtual facilitated learning collaborative (VFLC) that combined clinician training with implementation support. Ninety-five mental health clinicians from Veterans Health Administration clinics enrolled in the VFLC. Clinicians received 6 hr of training in WET plus weekly group consultation on training cases for 12-16 weeks. Clinic leaders participated in monthly group calls with facilitators to develop and track implementation plans, address barriers, and share resources. Clinicians completed the Perceived Characteristics of Intervention Scale and Implementation Climate Scale before training and after consultation, and the Intention Scale for providers after the program. Clinicians' positive perceptions of WET increased over time, t(85) = -8.80, p < .001, d = 0.95, and changes were moderated by how much reduction in symptoms their patients experienced, t(151) = -2.13, p = .035. The implementation climate for WET also improved over time, t(85) = -3.55, p < .001, d = 0.36. Consistent with the theory of planned behavior, clinicians' intention to continue using WET after training was influenced by their perceptions and attitudes about WET, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The VFLC model was feasible and associated with increases in clinicians' and leaders' support for using WET. Patient outcomes predicted the amount of change in clinicians' perceptions about WET. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000698

  View details for Web of Science ID 000850637300001

  View details for PubMedID 36074601

• Randomised clinical non-inferiority trial of breathing-based meditation and cognitive processing therapy for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans. BMJ open Bayley, P. J., Schulz-Heik, R. J., Tang, J. S., Mathersul, D. C., Avery, T., Wong, M., Zeitzer, J. M., Rosen, C. S., Burn, A. S., Hernandez, B., Lazzeroni, L. C., Seppala, E. M. 2022; 12 (8): e056609

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: Test whether Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) was non-inferior to cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for treating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans via a parallel randomised controlled non-inferiority trial.SETTING: Outpatient Veterans Affairs healthcare centre.PARTICIPANTS: 85 veterans (75 men, 61% white, mean age 56.9) with symptoms of PTSD participated between October 2015 and March 2020: 59 participants completed the study.INTERVENTIONS: SKY emphasises breathing routines and was delivered in group format in a 15-hour workshop followed by two 1-hour sessions per week for 5 weeks. CPT is an individual psychotherapy which emphasises shifting cognitive appraisals and was delivered in two 1-hour sessions per week for 6 weeks.MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). The secondary measures were the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS).RESULTS: Mean PCL-C at baseline was 56.5 (±12.6). Intent-to-treat analyses showed that PCL-C scores were reduced at 6weeks (end of treatment) relative to baseline (SKY, -5.6, d=0.41, n=41: CPT, -6.8, d=0.58, n=44). The between-treatment difference in change scores was within the non-inferiority margin of 10 points (-1.2, 95%CI -5.7 to 3.3), suggesting SKY was not inferior to CPT. SKY was also non-inferior at 1-month (CPT-SKY: -2.1, 95%CI -6.9 to 2.8) and 1-year (CPT-SKY: -1.8, 95%CI -6.6 to 2.9) assessments. SKY was also non-inferior to CPT on the BDI-II and PANAS at end of treatment and 1month, but SKY was inferior to CPT on both BDI-II and PANAS at 1year. Dropout rates were similar (SKY, 27%, CPT, 34%: OR=1.36, 95%CI 0.51 to 3.62, p=0.54).CONCLUSIONS: SKY may be non-inferior to CPT for treating symptoms of PTSD and merits further consideration as a treatment for PTSD.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02366403.

  View details for DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056609

  View details for PubMedID 36008059

• Barriers and Potential Solutions to Implementing Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment in Military Treatment Facilities. Military medicine McLean, C. P., Cook, J., Riggs, D. S., Peterson, A. L., Young-McCaughan, S., Borah, E. V., Comtois, K. A., Dondanville, K. A., Frick, E., Haddock, C. K., Mann, J., Reynolds, D., Mistretta, M., Neitzer, A., Brzuchalski, A., Clayton, S. P., Conforte, A. M., DuMars, T. D., Ekundayo, K., Flores, A., Hein, J., Jinkerson, J., Keith, F., Kim, H. J., Link, J. S., Nofziger, D., Pollick, K., Ringdahl, E. N., Waggoner, J., Woodworth, C., Rosen, C. S. 2022

  Abstract

  INTRODUCTION: Prolonged exposure therapy is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder that is underutilized in health systems, including the military health system. Organizational barriers to prolonged exposure implementation have been hypothesized but not systematically examined. This multisite project sought to identify barriers to increasing the use of prolonged exposure across eight military treatment facilities and describe potential solutions to addressing these barriers.MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of a larger project to increase the use of prolonged exposure therapy in the military health system, we conducted a needs assessment at eight military treatment facilities. The needs assessment included analysis of clinic administrative data and a series of stakeholder interviews with behavioral health clinic providers, leadership, and support staff. Key barriers were matched with potential solutions using a rubric developed for this project. Identified facilitators, barriers, and potential solutions were summarized in a collaboratively developed implementation plan for increasing prolonged exposure therapy tailored to each site.RESULTS: There was a greater than anticipated consistency in the barriers reported by the sites, despite variation in the size and type of facility. The identified barriers were grouped into four categories: time-related barriers, provider-related barriers, barriers related to patient education and matching patients to providers, and scheduling-related barriers. Potential solutions to each barrier are described.CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the numerous organizational-level barriers to implementing evidence-based psychotherapy in the military health system and offer potential solutions that may be helpful in addressing the barriers.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/milmed/usac240

  View details for PubMedID 35943175

• Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Clinical Outcomes Six Months After Receiving a PTSD Diagnosis in Veterans Health Administration PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Spoont, M., Nelson, D., Kehle-Forbes, S., Meis, L., Murdoch, M., Rosen, C., Sayer, N. 2021; 18 (4): 584-594

  Abstract

  Because the mental health burden of PTSD among many racial and ethnic minority veterans is greater than among non-Latinx Whites (NLW) and there are disparities in VHA mental health treatment, we evaluated variations in clinical outcomes across veteran racial and ethnic groups in a large national cohort diagnosed with PTSD in VHA. This was a planned secondary analysis of patient-reported outcomes from a large prospective cohort study of veterans with PTSD. Veterans were surveyed immediately following a PTSD diagnosis and again 6 months later. Changes in PTSD symptoms and mental health quality of life were modeled using initial measures of these factors and demographic characteristics. Primary analyses modeled outcomes constructed from a sample restricted to veterans who initiated some mental health care in the6- month follow-up period (n = 2,992). Additionally, outcomes were modeled using the full cohort of treatment initiators and noninitiators (n = 5,070). Sensitivity and post hoc analyses were used to examine robustness of our findings and to facilitate interpretability. Disparities in PTSD and mental health quality of life outcomes were observed for some racial and ethnic minority groups of veterans. Although improvements in PTSD symptoms and mental health quality of life have been highly associated in other studies, in this sample these outcomes were interrelated in complex ways across groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000463

  View details for Web of Science ID 000716342900015

  View details for PubMedID 32658513

• Effectiveness of written exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy LoSavio, S. T., Worley, C. B., Aajmain, S. T., Rosen, C. S., Wiltsey Stirman, S., Sloan, D. M. 2021

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to be efficacious in clinical trials; however, research is needed to determine WET's effectiveness in clinical practice settings. Additionally, research is needed to understand whether patient characteristics or treatment delivery format moderate outcomes.METHOD: Patient outcomes (n = 277) were assessed as part of a multisite training and implementation program in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). During treatment, patients completed self-report measures of PTSD, depression, and functional impairment. Patient characteristics (i.e., demographics, psychiatric comorbidity, trauma type) and treatment delivery format (i.e., telehealth vs. in-person) were assessed as treatment moderators.RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that WET was effective in reducing PTSD symptoms (d = .84), depression symptoms (d = .47), and functional impairment (d = .36) during treatment. Approximately one quarter of patients dropped out of treatment prematurely. No moderators of PTSD treatment outcome were observed; however, telehealth delivery was associated with lower dropout.CONCLUSIONS: WET was an effective approach across a range of patient characteristics in this sample of veterans with PTSD. WET was also effective whether delivered in-person or via telehealth. WET is a promising treatment option for veteran patients in VA clinical care settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/tra0001148

  View details for PubMedID 34726451

• STRONG STAR and the consortium to alleviate PTSD: Shaping the future of combat PTSD and related conditions in military and veteran populations. Contemporary clinical trials Peterson, A. L., Young-McCaughan, S., Roache, J. D., Mintz, J., Litz, B. T., Williamson, D. E., Resick, P. A., Foa, E. B., McGeary, D. D., Dondanville, K. A., Taylor, D. J., Wachen, J. S., Fox, P. T., Bryan, C. J., McLean, C. P., Pruiksma, K. E., Yarvis, J. S., Niles, B. L., Abdallah, C. G., Averill, L. A., Back, S. E., Baker, M. T., Blount, T. H., Borah, A. M., Borah, E. V., Brock, M. S., Brown, L. A., Burg, M. M., Cigrang, J. A., DeBeer, B. B., DeVoe, E. R., Fina, B. A., Flanagan, J. C., Fredman, S. J., Gardner, C. L., Gatchel, R. R., Goodie, J. L., Gueorguieva, R., Higgs, J. B., Jacoby, V. M., Kelly, K. M., Krystal, J. H., Lapiz-Bluhm, M. D., Lopez-Roca, A. L., Marx, B. P., Maurer, D. M., McDevitt-Murphy, M. E., McGeary, C. A., Meyer, E. C., Miles, S. R., Monson, C. M., Morilak, D. A., Moring, J. C., Mysliwiec, V., Nicholson, K. L., Rauch, S. A., Riggs, D. S., Rosen, C. S., Rudd, M. D., Schobitz, R. P., Schrader, C. C., Shinn, A. M., Shiroma, P. R., Sloan, D. M., Stern, S. L., Strong, R., Vannoy, S. D., Young, K. A., Keane, T. M. 2021: 106583

  Abstract

  The STRONG STAR Consortium (South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience) and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD are interdisciplinary and multi-institutional research consortia focused on the detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid conditions in military personnel and veterans. This manuscript outlines the consortia's state-of-the-science collaborative research model and how this can be used as a roadmap for future trauma-related research. STRONG STAR was initially funded for 5 years in 2008 by the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program. Since the initial funding of STRONG STAR, almost 50 additional peer-reviewed STRONG STAR-affiliated projects have been funded through the DoD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the National Institutes of Health, and private organizations. In 2013, STRONG STAR investigators partnered with the VA's National Center for PTSD and were selected for joint DoD/VA funding to establish the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD. STRONG STAR and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD have assembled a critical mass of investigators and institutions with the synergy required to make major scientific and public health advances in the prevention and treatment of combat PTSD and related conditions. This manuscript provides an overview of the establishment of these two research consortia, including their history, vision, mission, goals, and accomplishments. Comprehensive tables provide descriptions of over 70 projects supported by the consortia. Examples are provided of collaborations among over 50 worldwide academic research institutions and over 150 investigators.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106583

  View details for PubMedID 34600107

• Veterans With Poor PTSD Treatment Adherence: Exploring Their Loved Ones' Experience of PTSD and Understanding of PTSD Treatment PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Thompson-Hollands, J., Burmeister, L. B., Rosen, C. S., O'Dougherty, M., Erickson, E. G., Meis, L. A. 2021; 18 (2): 216-226

  Abstract

  Trauma-focused psychotherapies such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE) are some of the most effective treatments available for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These treatments have been widely disseminated and promoted throughout the VA Health care System. However, adherence to and completion of these protocols among veterans is often poor, resulting in diminished impact. "Support persons" (SPs) such as relatives and close friends may provide a source of emotional or practical support in treatment, but little is known about how SPs are involved in or exposed to treatment principles and activities. The primary goal of the current research was to examine the experience of SPs of veterans who had poor adherence to treatment. We were interested in SPs' knowledge about the treatment, their level of involvement in treatment activities or sessions, and their potential interest in more participation or education. Qualitative analyses were used to examine data collected from interviews with 19 SPs of veterans who had an unsuccessful course of CPT or PE. Results indicated generally very low levels of knowledge and treatment participation. However, among most SPs there was substantial interest in the possibility of more treatment involvement, particularly in order to receive guidance from the clinician about how to respond to the veteran's symptoms. We suggest that it is possible and desirable to incorporate loved ones more formally into such protocols. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000389

  View details for Web of Science ID 000646667600010

  View details for PubMedID 31436444

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7035146

• Correction to: Participatory System Dynamics Modeling: Increasing Stakeholder Engagement and Precision to Improve Implementation Planning in Systems. Administration and policy in mental health Zimmerman, L. n., Lounsbury, D. W., Rosen, C. S., Kimerling, R. n., Trafton, J. A., Lindley, S. E. 2021

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10488-020-01105-3

  View details for PubMedID 33433764

• Investigation of Therapist Effects on Patient Engagement in Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Veterans Health Administration. Journal of traumatic stress Sayer, N. A., Wiltsey-Stirman, S., Rosen, C. S., Bernardy, N. C., Spoont, M. R., Kehle-Forbes, S. M., Eftekhari, A., Chard, K. M., Nelson, D. B. 2021

  Abstract

  The present study examined whether certain Veterans Health Administration (VHA) therapists have more success than others in keeping patients engaged in evidence-based psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our objective was to use multilevel modeling to quantify the variability between therapists in two indicators of patient engagement: early dropout (i.e., < 3 sessions) and adequate dose (i.e., ≥ 8 sessions). The phenomenon of systematic variability between therapists in patients' treatment experience and outcomes is referred to as "therapist effects." The sample included the 2,709 therapists who provided individual cognitive processing therapy (CPT) or prolonged exposure (PE) to 18,461 veterans with PTSD across 140 facilities in 2017. Data were extracted from administrative databases. For CPT, therapist effects accounted for 10.9% of the variance in early dropout and 8.9% of the variance in adequate dose. For PE, therapist effects accounted for 6.0% and 8.8% of the variance in early dropout and adequate dose, respectively. Facility only accounted for an additional 1.1%-3.1% of the variance in early dropout and adequate dose. For CPT, patients' odds of receiving an adequate dose almost doubled, OR = 1.41/0.72 = 1.96, if they were seen by a therapist in the highest compared with the lowest retention decile. For PE, the odds of a patient receiving an adequate dose were 84% higher, OR = 1.38/0.75 = 1.84, when treated by a therapist in the highest compared with the lowest retention decile. Therapist skills and work environment may contribute to variability across therapists in early dropout and adequate dose.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.22679

  View details for PubMedID 34048602

• Serving Veterans in their Communities: Evaluation of an Online Resource for Behavioral Health Care Providers. Community mental health journal McCaslin, S. E., Mackintosh, M. A., Chang, A. n., Sanborn, A. J., Rosen, C. S. 2021

  Abstract

  Many veterans receive behavioral health care services from providers in their communities. The Community Provider Toolkit (the Toolkit) is a website developed by the National Center for PTSD and the Department of Veterans Affairs intended to provide community mental health care providers with key veteran-focused educational resources. This mixed-methods study examined the potential impact of the Toolkit on provider knowledge and behaviors. Sixty-four clinicians in the community who currently or plan to provide services to veterans were surveyed. The majority of providers found the website useful and easy to navigate. After visiting the site, many providers found additional online and educational resources that they would add to a hypothetical treatment plan. Forty-five providers completed a 1-month follow-up survey focused on use of the Toolkit. Results indicate that the Toolkit may be a valuable tool for increasing provider knowledge about veteran-specific resources.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10597-020-00766-6

  View details for PubMedID 33484376

• A Qualitative Evaluation of Veterans Health Administration's Implementation of Measurement-Based Care in Behavioral Health PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Holliday, S., Hepner, K. A., Farmer, C. M., Ivany, C., Iyiewuare, P., McGee-Vincent, P., McCaslin, S., Rosen, C. S. 2020; 17 (3): 271–81

  Abstract

  Measurement-based care (MBC) in behavioral health involves the repeated collection of patient-reported data that is used to track progress, inform care, and engage patients in shared decision making about their treatment. Research suggests that MBC increases the quality and effectiveness of mental health care. However, there can be challenges to implementing MBC, such as time burden, lack of resources to support MBC, and clinician attitudes. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is currently undertaking a multiphase MBC roll-out, the first phase of which included 59 sites across the country. The present study examined implementation of this initiative in an effort to learn more about the process of implementation, including best practices, challenges, and innovations. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 MBC site champions and 60 staff members from 25 VHA medical centers across the country. Qualitative data analysis was conducted to identify key themes related to MBC implementation. Results were described for 3 components of MBC implementation: preparing for implementation, administering measures, and using and sharing data. Training and staff buy-in were key to the preparation phase. Staff members reported a variety of methods and frequencies for the collection of MBC data, with many staff members identifying a need to streamline the collection process. Staff members reported using data to track progress and adjust treatment with patients. Efforts to use data on a programmatic level were identified as a next step. Innovative solutions across clinics and sites are described in an effort to inform future MBC implementation, both within and outside of VHA. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000390

  View details for Web of Science ID 000568665300005

  View details for PubMedID 31424241

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7028496

• Implementation Patterns of Two Evidence-Based Psychotherapies in Veterans Affairs Residential Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Programs: A Five-Point Longitudinal National Investigation. Journal of traumatic stress Cook, J. M., Simiola, V., Thompson, R., Mackintosh, M., Rosen, C., Sayer, N., Schnurr, P. P. 2020

  Abstract

  The present study examined the patterns of adoption of two evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs)-prolonged exposure (PE) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT)-in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) residential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment programs. A total of 526 providers from 39 programs nationwide completed online quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, collected at five assessment points between 2008 and 2015, concerning the use of PE and CPT. By the midpoint of the study period, responders from most programs reported having adopted one or both EBPs as either core components of their programs or "tracks" for certain patients within their programs, adoption rates were 52.8% of programs at Time 3, 61.0% at Time 4, and 66.7% at Time 5. Evaluation of adoption patterns over time suggested that CPT was used in more programs and with more patients within programs compared to PE. At Time 5, respondents from half of the programs reported little or no adoption of PE, whereas the CPT adoption rate was reported to be "little or none" for one-fifth of the programs. The adoption of PE was generally slower compared to CPT adoption. The slower rate of adoption may be related to the resource-intensive nature of implementing PE on an individual basis in a residential setting as compared to the multiple ways CPT can be delivered: individually or in group settings, and with or without the inclusion of the trauma narrative. Strategies to improve sustainability measurement and implications for implementation science are discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.22557

  View details for PubMedID 32583606

• Telepsychotherapy During a Pandemic: A Traumatic Stress Perspective JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY INTEGRATION Rosen, C. S., Glassman, L. H., Morland, L. A. 2020; 30 (2): 174–87

  View details for DOI 10.1037/int0000221

  View details for Web of Science ID 000538578500003

• Predicting Treatment Dropout Among Veterans Receiving Prolonged Exposure Therapy PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA-THEORY RESEARCH PRACTICE AND POLICY Eftekhari, A., Crowley, J. J., Mackintosh, M., Rosen, C. S. 2020; 12 (4): 405–12

  Abstract

  To examine whether dropout from prolonged exposure (PE) therapy can be predicted from demographic and outcomes data that would typically be available to clinicians.Dropout was examined in 2,606 patients treated by clinicians in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration PE Training Program. PE typically consists of 8-15 sessions, with 8 sessions being considered a minimum therapeutic dose for most patients. Logistic regression was used to assess the impact of demographics, depression, trauma history, and PE target trauma on risk for dropout. Growth mixture modeling was used to study how posttraumatic stress disorder symptom patterns during the first 5 treatment encounters predicted dropout.In total, 782 patients (30.0%) completed fewer than 8 sessions of PE. Younger veterans were more likely to drop out of PE; odds ratio (OR) per year of age = 0.97, p < .01. Controlling for other factors, veterans who focused on childhood trauma were less likely to drop out than those focusing on combat trauma (OR = 0.51, p < .05). Dropout was unrelated to symptom course or symptom worsening between sessions. Nevertheless, clinicians attributed dropout to distress or avoidance in 45% of the patients who dropped out, citing other factors in 37% of dropout cases.Treatment dropout was predicted by age but not by initial symptom severity or symptom course early in treatment. Symptom exacerbation was rare and did not increase risk of dropout. Nonetheless, clinicians often attributed dropout to patients not tolerating PE. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/tra0000484

  View details for Web of Science ID 000525399500010

  View details for PubMedID 31318247

• Development of a mobile app for family members of Veterans with PTSD: identifying needs and modifiable factors associated with burden, depression, and anxiety JOURNAL OF FAMILY STUDIES Owen, J. E., Jaworski, B. K., Kuhn, E., Hoffman, J. E., Schievelbein, L., Chang, A., Ramsey, K., Rosen, C. 2020; 26 (2): 286–307

  View details for DOI 10.1080/13229400.2017.1377629

  View details for Web of Science ID 000523016000008

• Targeted assessment and context-tailored implementation of change strategies (TACTICS) to increase evidence based psychotherapy in military behavioral health clinics: Design of a cluster-randomized stepped-wedge implementation study. Contemporary clinical trials Rosen, C. S., Davis, C. A., Riggs, D. n., Cook, J. n., Peterson, A. L., Young-McCaughan, S. n., Comtois, K. A., Haddock, C. K., Borah, E. V., Dondanville, K. A., Finley, E. P., Jahnke, S. A., Poston, W. S., Wiltsey-Stirman, S. n., Neitzer, A. n., Broussard, C. R., Brzuchalski, M. A., Clayton, M. S., Conforte, L. T., Flores, A. n., Hein, J. n., Keith, C. F., Jinkerson, C. J., Letendre, M. n., Nofziger, D. n., Pollick, K. n., Santiago, C. K., Waggoner, L. C., Woodworth, C. n., McLean, C. P. 2020: 106008

  Abstract

  Despite efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense to train behavioral health (BH) providers in evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), numerous barriers limit EBP implementation. A context-tailored implementation approach called TACTICS (Targeted Assessment and Context-Tailored Implementation of Change Strategies) holds promise for increasing the use of EBPs such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE) in military treatment facilities. TACTICS combines a needs assessment, a rubric for selecting implementation strategies based on local barriers, an implementation toolkit, and external facilitation to support local champions and their implementation teams in enacting changes. This paper describes the rationale for and design of a study that will evaluate whether TACTICS can increase implementation of PE for PTSD and improve patient outcomes in military BH clinics relative to provider training in PE alone.The study is a multi-site, cluster randomized, stepped-wedge trial, with the military treatment facility as the unit of analysis. Eight facilities undergo a provider-training phase, followed by 5 months of TACTICS implementation. The timing of TACTICS at each facility is randomly assigned to begin 9, 14, or 19 months after beginning the provider-training phase. Primary analyses will compare the proportion of PTSD patients receiving PE and patients' mean improvement in PTSD symptoms before and after the onset of TACTICS.TACTICS endeavors to balance standardization of empirically-supported implementation strategies with the flexibility of application necessary for success across varied clinical settings. If successful, TACTICS may represent a systematic and scalable method of promoting and supporting EBP implementation.Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03663452.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106008

  View details for PubMedID 32330670

• Training During a Pandemic: Successes, Challenges, and Practical Guidance From a Virtual Facilitated Learning Collaborative Training Program for Written Exposure Therapy. Journal of traumatic stress Worley, C. B., LoSavio, S. T., Aajmain, S. n., Rosen, C. n., Stirman, S. W., Sloan, D. M. 2020

  Abstract

  In response to COVID-19, continued workforce training is essential to ensure that evidence-based treatments are available on the frontline to meet communities' ongoing and emerging mental health needs. However, training during a pandemic imposes many new challenges. This paper describes a multisite training and implementation pilot program, facets of which allowed for continued training despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing guidelines. This virtual facilitated learning collaborative in Written Exposure Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder, included virtual workshop training, phone-based clinical consultation, implementation-focused video calls for program leadership, and program evaluation. Data are presented about program enrollees and patient impact following the onset of COVID-19-related social distancing restrictions. Challenges, successes, and practical guidance are discussed to inform the field regarding training strategies likely to be durable in an uncertain, dynamic healthcare landscape.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.22589

  View details for PubMedID 33007149

• Evaluation of an Implementation Intervention to Increase Reach of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for PTSD in US Veterans Health Administration PTSD Clinics. Administration and policy in mental health Sayer, N. A., Bernardy, N. C., Yoder, M. n., Hamblen, J. L., Rosen, C. S., Ackland, P. E., Kehle-Forbes, S. M., Clothier, B. A., Schnurr, P. P., Orazem, R. J., Noorbaloochi, S. n. 2020

  Abstract

  To evaluate an implementation intervention to increase the uptake, referred to as reach, of two evidence-based psychotherapies (EBP) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) PTSD specialty clinics. The implementation intervention was external facilitation guided by a toolkit that bundled strategies associated with high EBP reach in prior research. We used a prospective quasi-experimental design. The facilitator worked with local champions at two low-reach PTSD clinics. Each intervention PTSD clinic was matched to three control clinics. We compared the change in EBP reach from 6-months pre- to post-intervention using Difference-in-Difference (DID) effect estimation. To incorporate possible clustering effects and adjust for imbalanced covariates, we used mixed effects logistic regression to model the probability of EBP receipt. Analyses were conducted separately for PTSD and other mental health clinics. 29,446 veterans diagnosed with PTSD received psychotherapy in the two intervention and six control sites in the two 6-month evaluation periods. The proportion of therapy patients with PTSD receiving an EBP increased by 16.98 percentage points in the intervention PTSD clinics compared with .45 percentage points in the control PTSD clinics (DID = 16.53%; SE = 2.26%). The adjusted odd ratio of a patient receiving an EBP from pre to post intervention was almost three times larger in the intervention than in the control PTSD clinics (RoR 2.90; 95% CI 2.22-3.80). EBP reach was largely unchanged in other (not PTSD specialty) mental health clinics within the same medical centers. Toolkit-guided external facilitation is a promising intervention to improve uptake of EBPs in VHA. Toolkits that pre-specify targets for clinic change based on prior research may enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of external facilitation. Trial registration ISRCTN registry identifier: ISRCTN65119065. Available at https://www.isrctn.com/search?q=ISRCTN65119065 .

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10488-020-01086-3

  View details for PubMedID 32944814

• Advances in PTSD Treatment Delivery: Review of Findings and Clinical Considerations for the Use of Telehealth Interventions for PTSD. Current treatment options in psychiatry Morland, L. A., Wells, S. Y., Glassman, L. H., Greene, C. J., Hoffman, J. E., Rosen, C. S. 2020: 1–21

  Abstract

  Effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remain underutilized and individuals with PTSD often have difficulty accessing care. Telehealth, particularly clinical videoconferencing (CVT), can overcome barriers to treatment and increase access to care for individuals with PTSD. The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature on the delivery of PTSD treatments through office-based and home-based videoconferencing, and outline areas for future research.Evidence-based PTSD treatments delivered through office-based and home-based CVT have been studied in pilot studies, non-randomized trials, and randomized clinical trials. The studies have consistently demonstrated feasibility and acceptability of these modalities as well as significant reduction in PTSD symptoms, non-inferior outcomes, and comparable dropout rates when compared with traditional face-to-face office-based care. Finally, it has been shown that using CVT does not compromise the therapeutic process.Office-based and home-based CVT can be used to deliver PTSD treatments while retaining efficacy and therapeutic process. The use of these modalities can increase the number of individuals that can access efficacious PTSD care.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s40501-020-00215-x

  View details for PubMedID 32837831

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7261035

• Creating a Practice-Based Implementation Network: Facilitating Practice Change Across Health Care Systems. The journal of behavioral health services & research Ruzek, J. I., Landes, S. J., McGee-Vincent, P. n., Rosen, C. S., Crowley, J. n., Calhoun, P. S., McGraw, K. n., Walser, R. D., Smith, J. L., Barry, D. S., Schmidt, J. n., Simon, E. n., Runnals, J. n., Liu, N. H., Shaw, R. K., Zimmerman, L. n., Nottis, D. n., Tiet, Q. Q., Juhasz, K. M., Kirchner, J. E. 2020

  Abstract

  A proof-of-concept practice-based implementation network was developed in the US Departments of Veteran Affairs (VA) and Defense to increase the speed of implementation of mental health practices, derive lessons learned prior to larger-scale implementation, and facilitate organizational learning. One hundred thirty-four clinicians in 18 VA clinics received brief training in the use of the PTSD checklist (PCL) in clinical care. Two implementation strategies, external facilitation and technical assistance, were used to encourage the use of outcomes data to inform treatment decisions and increase discussion of results with patients. There were mixed results for changes in the frequency of PCL administration, but consistent increases in clinician use of data and incorporation into the treatment process via discussion. Programs and clinicians were successfully recruited to participate in a 2-year initiative, suggesting the feasibility of using this organizational structure to facilitate the implementation of new practices in treatment systems.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11414-020-09696-3

  View details for PubMedID 32363490

• Present-centered therapy (PCT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews Belsher, B. E., Beech, E., Evatt, D., Smolenski, D. J., Shea, M. T., Otto, J. L., Rosen, C. S., Schnurr, P. P. 2019; 2019 (11)

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Present-centered therapy (PCT) is a non-trauma, manualized psychotherapy for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PCT was originally designed as a treatment comparator in trials evaluating the effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Recent trials have indicated that PCT may be an effective treatment option for PTSD and that patients may drop out of PCT at lower rates relative to TF-CBT.OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of PCT for adults with PTSD. Specifically, we sought to determine whether (1) PCT is more effective in alleviating symptoms relative to control conditions, (2) PCT results in similar alleviation of symptoms compared to TF-CBT, based on an a priori minimally important differences on a semi-structured interview of PTSD symptoms, and (3) PCT is associated with lower treatment dropout as compared to TF-CBT.SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and PTSDpubs (previously called the Published International Literature on Traumatic Stress (PILOTS) database) (all years to 15 February 2019 search). We also searched the World Health Organization (WHO) trials portal (ICTRP) and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify unpublished and ongoing trials. Reference lists of included studies and relevant systematic reviews were checked. Grey literature searches were also conducted to identify dissertations and theses, clinical guidelines, and regulatory agency reports.SELECTION CRITERIA: We selected all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that recruited adults diagnosed with PTSD to evaluate PCT compared to TF-CBT or a control condition. Both individual and group PCT modalities were included. The primary outcomes of interest included reduced PTSD severity as determined by a clinician-administered measure and treatment dropout rates.DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We complied with the Cochrane recommended standards for data screening and collection. Two review authors independently screened articles for inclusion and extracted relevant data from eligible studies, including the assessment of trial quality. Random-effects meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses were conducted using mean differences (MD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) for continuous data or risk ratios (RR) and risk differences (RD) for dichotomous data. To conclude that PCT resulted in similar reductions in PTSD symptoms relative to TF-CBT, we required a MD of less than 10 points (to include the 95% confidence interval) on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Five members of the review team convened to rate the quality of evidence across the primary outcomes. Any disagreements were resolved through discussion. Review authors who were investigators on any of the included trials were not involved in the qualitative or quantitative syntheses.MAIN RESULTS: We included 12 studies (n = 1837), of which, three compared PCT to a wait-list/minimal attention (WL/MA) group and 11 compared PCT to TF-CBT. PCT was more effective than WL/MA in reducing PTSD symptom severity (SMD -0.84, 95% CI -1.10 to -0.59; participants = 290; studies = 3; I = 0%). We assessed the quality of this evidence as moderate. The results of the non-inferiority analysis comparing PCT to TF-CBT did not support PCT non-inferiority, with the 95% confidence interval surpassing the clinically meaningful cut-off (MD 6.83, 95% CI 1.90 to 11.76; 6 studies, n = 607; I = 42%). We assessed this quality of evidence as low. CAPS differences between PCT and TF-CBT attenuated at 6-month (MD 1.59, 95% CI -0.46 to 3.63; participants = 906; studies = 6; I = 0%) and 12-month (MD 1.22, 95% CI -2.17 to 4.61; participants = 485; studies = 3; I = 0%) follow-up periods. To confirm the direction of the treatment effect using all eligible trials, we also evaluated PTSD SMD differences. These results were consistent with the primary MD outcomes, with meaningful effect size differences between PCT and TF-CBT at post-treatment (SMD 0.32, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.56; participants = 1129; studies = 9), but smaller effect size differences at six months (SMD 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.29; participants = 1339; studies = 9) and 12 months (SMD 0.17, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.31; participants = 728; studies = 5). PCT had approximately 14% lower treatment dropout rates compared to TF-CBT (RD -0.14, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.10; participants = 1542; studies = 10). We assessed the quality of this evidence as moderate. There was no evidence of meaningful differences on self-reported PTSD (MD 4.50, 95% CI 3.09 to 5.90; participants = 983; studies = 7) or depression symptoms (MD 1.78, 95% CI -0.23 to 3.78; participants = 705; studies = 5) post-treatment.AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-quality evidence indicates that PCT is more effective in reducing PTSD severity compared to control conditions. Low quality of evidence did not support PCT as a non-inferior treatment compared to TF-CBT on clinician-rated post-treatment PTSD severity. The treatment effect differences between PCT and TF-CBT may attenuate over time. PCT participants drop out of treatment at lower rates relative to TF-CBT participants. Of note, all of the included studies were primarily designed to test the effectiveness of TF-CBT which may bias results away from PCT non-inferiority.The current systematic review provides the most rigorous evaluation to date to determine whether PCT is comparably as effective as TF-CBT. Findings are generally consistent with current clinical practice guidelines that suggest that PCT may be offered as a treatment for PTSD when TF-CBT is not available.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD012898.pub2

  View details for PubMedID 31742672

• PTSD Coach Mobile Application With Brief Telephone Support: A Pilot Study PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Tiet, Q. Q., Duong, H., Davis, L., French, R., Smith, C. L., Leyva, Y. E., Rosen, C. 2019; 16 (2): 227–32

  Abstract

  The number of health care mobile applications (MAs) has increased drastically in recent years, but research on efficacy and approaches to provide MA intervention is lacking. The PTSD Coach was designed to help individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms to understand and manage symptoms. Use of MA tends to drop off quickly; this pilot study tested the use of the PTSD Coach with brief telephone support by paraprofessionals. A total of 29 participants with elevated PTSD symptoms recruited from Veterans Affairs primary care clinics completed baseline and 4-month follow-up surveys including the PTSD Checklist, Patient Health Questionnaire for depressive symptoms, and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Participants received PTSD Coach MA intervention plus paraprofessional brief telephone support reported the phone support was helpful and greater than 70% of participants maintained use of the MA throughout the 3-month intervention period. Results indicated that participants showed significant improvement on PTSD reexperiencing symptoms, depressive symptoms, and quality of life after intervention. The PTSD Coach MA plus brief telephone support is a promising approach for primary care patients managing psychiatric symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000245

  View details for Web of Science ID 000466773000007

  View details for PubMedID 30407056

• Participatory system dynamics for high quality VA addiction and mental health care Zimmerman, L., Lounsbury, D., Rosen, C., Kimerling, R., Holbrook, A., Hong, S., Branscomb, J., Kibbe, D., Park, S., Kramer, R., Barlow, D. C., Mushiana, S., Azevedo, K., Yang, J., Trafton, J., Lindley, S., Rust, T. BMC. 2019

  View details for Web of Science ID 000584552900114

• Developing a rubric for matching implementation strategies to barriers: Cross-walking implementation theory and practice Rosen, C., Riggs, D., Peterson, A., Young-McCaughan, S., Borah, E., Brim, W., Comtois, K., Cook, J., Davis, C., Dondanville, K., Finley, E., French, L., Mistretta, M., Neitzer, A., Wiltsey-Stirman, S., McLean, C. BMC. 2019

  View details for Web of Science ID 000584552900071

• Sticking It Out in Trauma-Focused Treatment for PTSD: It Takes a Village JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Meis, L. A., Noorbaloochi, S., Campbell, E., Erbes, C. R., Polusny, M. A., Velasquez, T. L., Bangerter, A., Cutting, A., Eftekhari, A., Rosen, C. S., Tuerk, P. W., Burmeister, L. B., Spoont, M. R. 2019; 87 (3): 246–56

  Abstract

  One in 3 veterans will dropout from trauma-focused treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Social environments may be particularly important to influencing treatment retention. We examined the role of 2 support system factors in predicting treatment dropout: social control (direct efforts by loved ones to encourage veterans to participate in treatment and face distress) and symptom accommodation (changes in loved ones' behavior to reduce veterans' PTSD-related distress).Veterans and a loved one were surveyed across 4 VA hospitals. All veterans were initiating prolonged exposure therapy or cognitive processing therapy (n = 272 dyads). Dropout was coded through review of VA hospital records.Regression analyses controlled for traditional, individual-focused factors likely to influence treatment dropout. We found that, even after accounting for these factors, veterans who reported their loved ones encouraged them to face distress were twice as likely to remain in PTSD treatment than veterans who denied such encouragement.Clinicians initiating trauma-focused treatments with veterans should routinely assess how open veterans' support systems are to encouraging veterans to face their distress. Outreach to support networks is warranted to ensure loved ones back the underlying philosophy of trauma-focused treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ccp0000386

  View details for Web of Science ID 000458950800003

  View details for PubMedID 30777776

• Which patients initiate cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure in department of veterans affairs PTSD clinics? JOURNAL OF ANXIETY DISORDERS Rosen, C. S., Bernardy, N. C., Chard, K. M., Clothier, B., Cook, J. M., Crowley, J., Eftekhari, A., Kehle-Forbes, S. M., Mohr, D. C., Noorbaloochi, S., Orazem, R. J., Ruzek, J. I., Schnurr, P. P., Smith, B. N., Sayer, N. A. 2019; 62: 53-60

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.11.003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000459235100006

• Use of Guideline-Recommended Treatments for PTSD Among Community-Based Providers in Texas and Vermont: Implications for the Veterans Choice Program. The journal of behavioral health services & research Finley, E. P., Mader, M. n., Haro, E. K., Noël, P. H., Bernardy, N. n., Rosen, C. S., Bollinger, M. n., Garcia, H. A., Sherrieb, K. n., Pugh, M. J. 2019; 46 (2): 217–33

  Abstract

  Implementation of the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) allows Veterans to receive care paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in community settings. However, the quality of that care is unknown, particularly for complex conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 668 community primary care and mental health providers in Texas and Vermont to describe use of guideline-recommended treatments (GRTs) for PTSD. Relatively, few providers reported using guideline-recommended psychotherapy or prescribing practices. More than half of psychotherapists reported the use of at least one guideline-recommended psychotherapy for PTSD, but fewer reported the use of core treatment components, prior training in the GRT(s) they use, or adherence to a treatment manual. Suboptimal prescribing for PTSD patients was reported more commonly than optimal prescribing. Findings raise critical questions regarding how to ensure veterans seeking PTSD care in community settings receive psychotherapy and/or prescribing consistent with clinical practice guidelines.

  View details for PubMedID 29748747

• Standardized Assessment and Measurement-Based Care AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION PUBLISHING TEXTBOOK OF PSYCHIATRY, 7TH EDITION Rosen, C. S., Lindley, S. N., Stirman, S., Roberts, L. W. 2019: 1095–1110

  View details for Web of Science ID 000550979400041

• Present-centered therapy (PCT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS Belsher, B. E., Beech, E., Evatt, D., Smolenski, D. J., Shea, M., Otto, J., Rosen, C. S., Schnurr, P. P. 2019

  View details for DOI 10.1002/114651858.CD012898.pub2

  View details for Web of Science ID 000504427100026

• Which patients initiate cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure in department of veterans affairs PTSD clinics? Journal of anxiety disorders Rosen, C. S., Bernardy, N. C., Chard, K. M., Clothier, B., Cook, J. M., Crowley, J., Eftekhari, A., Kehle-Forbes, S. M., Mohr, D. C., Noorbaloochi, S., Orazem, R. J., Ruzek, J. I., Schnurr, P. P., Smith, B. N., Sayer, N. A. 2018; 62: 53–60

  Abstract

  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE) for PTSD at all of its facilities, but little is known about systematic differences between patients who do and do not initiate these treatments. VA administrative data were analyzed for 6,251 veterans receiving psychotherapy over one year in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) specialty clinics at nine VA medical centers. CPT and PE were initiated by 2,173 (35%) patients. Veterans' probability of initiating either CPT or PE (considered together) was 29% lower (adjusted odds ratio=.61) if they had a psychiatric hospitalization within the same year, and 15% lower (AOR=.78) if they had service-connected disability for PTSD. Veterans' probability of starting CPT or PE was 19% lower (AOR=.74) if they were Hispanic or Latino, 10% lower (AOR=.84), if they were male rather than female, and 9% lower (AOR=.87) if they were divorced, separated or widowed rather than currently married. Probability of receiving CPT or PE was also lower if verans had more co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses (AOR per diagnosis=.88), were older (AOR per every five years=.95), or lived further away from the VA clinic (AOR per every ten miles=.98). Nonetheless, most patients initiating CPT or PE had two or more comorbidities and were service-connected for PTSD. Observed gender, age and ethnic differences in initiation of CPT and PE appear unrelated to clinical suitability and warrant further study.

  View details for PubMedID 30550959

• Associations Between Residential Treatment Length, PTSD, and Outpatient Healthcare Utilization Among Veterans PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Banducci, A. N., Bonn-Miller, M. O., Timko, C., Rosen, C. S. 2018; 15 (4): 529–35

  Abstract

  Premature discontinuation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment is generally associated with poorer outcomes for veterans with PTSD. What is less clear is whether treatment benefits, as a function of treatment length, persist, as well as predict less future mental health care utilization. We sought to determine whether length of stay (LOS) in residential PTSD treatment predicted discharge PTSD symptom severity and outpatient mental health care utilization. We hypothesized discharge PTSD Checklist (PCL) scores would mediate the relations between LOS in residential treatment and outpatient mental health care utilization. The current study included 740 veterans who received residential PTSD treatment within 5 VA hospitals and completed intake and discharge assessments, including the PTSD Checklist (PCL). Information about LOS in residential treatment and outpatient mental health care utilization was obtained from the National Patient Care Database. We examined the relations between residential LOS, discharge Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), and outpatient mental health care utilization. Nonparametric bootstrapping was utilized to test for the significance of the indirect effect. Veterans who stayed in residential treatment longer had lower PCL scores at discharge (est. = -2.50, SE = .51, p < .001), and veterans with lower PCL scores at discharge sought fewer outpatient mental health visits (est. = .31, SE = .14, p = .03). A bias-corrected bootstrap confidence interval for the indirect effect (ab = -.77) based on 10,000 bootstrap samples was entirely below zero (-1.72 to -.05). This indicates discharge PCL mediated the relations between LOS and outpatient mental health care utilization, such that individuals with a longer LOS in residential PTSD treatment had lower PCL scores at discharge and thus utilized less outpatient mental health care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000204

  View details for Web of Science ID 000448897500019

  View details for PubMedID 29265844

• Psychotherapy Practices for Veterans With PTSD Among Community-Based Providers in Texas PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Finley, E. P., Noel, P. H., Lee, S., Haro, E., Garcia, H., Rosen, C., Bernardy, N., Pugh, M., Pugh, J. A. 2018; 15 (4): 442–52

  Abstract

  Significant changes in national health policy, like the Veterans Choice Act, have created growing opportunities for veterans to receive care outside of the Veterans Administration (VA), yet little is known about the attitudes and practices in PTSD care of community providers, particularly their use of evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs). The authors assessed psychotherapy practices of community providers serving veterans with PTSD in Texas. They surveyed Texas mental health providers regarding their patient population, practice setting, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related screening, assessment, and treatment practices. They identified providers from state licensing board rosters and included a stratified sample of social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors (500 each), all psychologists with available email addresses (n = 3,986), and 106 providers known to have completed state-sponsored training for 1 of the EBPs for PTSD, cognitive processing therapy. Four hundred sixty-three eligible respondents returned surveys (15% response rate). Providers reported treating a mean of 7.9 veterans with PTSD in the past year (range = 0-200; SD = 20.5), using a variety of therapeutic approaches for PTSD. Only 15.0% of providers reported regularly conducting psychotherapy for PTSD following a treatment manual, and fewer than half reported any use of EBPs for PTSD with patients. Although many veterans are receiving treatment for PTSD in the community, many community-based mental health providers in Texas do not consistently use recommended treatments for PTSD. These findings may suggest an important opportunity for VA to engage and partner with community providers to achieve high-quality care for veterans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for PubMedID 28301173

• The Influence of Team Functioning and Workload on Sustainability of Trauma-Focused Evidence-Based Psychotherapies PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Mohr, D. C., Rosen, C. S., Schnurr, P. P., Orazem, R. J., Noorbaloochi, S., Clothier, B. A., Eftekhari, A., Bernardy, N. C., Chard, K. M., Crowley, J. J., Cook, J. M., Kehle-Forbes, S. M., Ruzek, J. I., Sayer, N. A. 2018; 69 (8): 879-886

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.201700432

  View details for Web of Science ID 000440430000010

• VA mobile apps for PTSD and related problems: public health resources for veterans and those who care for them. mHealth Owen, J. E., Kuhn, E., Jaworski, B. K., McGee-Vincent, P., Juhasz, K., Hoffman, J. E., Rosen, C. 2018; 4: 28

  Abstract

  Many public health agencies, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), have identified the use of mobile technologies as an essential part of a larger strategy to address major public health challenges. The VA's National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), in collaboration with VA's Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the Defense Health Agency inside the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), has been involved in the development, evaluation, and testing of 15 mobile apps designed specifically to address the needs and concerns of veterans and others experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These applications include seven treatment-companion apps (designed to be used with a provider, in conjunction with an evidence-based therapy) and eight self-management apps (designed to be used independently or as an adjunct or extender of traditional care). There is growing evidence for the efficacy of several of these apps for reducing PTSD and other symptoms, and studies of providers demonstrate that the apps are engaging, easy-to-use, and provide a relative advantage to traditional care without apps. While publicly available apps do not collect or share personal data, VA has created research-enabled versions of many of its mental health apps to enable ongoing product enhancement and continuous measurement of the value of these tools to veterans and frontline providers. VA and DoD are also collaborating on provider-based implementation networks to enable clinicians to optimize implementation of mobile technologies in care. Although there are many challenges to developing and integrating mHealth into care, including cost, privacy, and the need for additional research, mobile mental health technologies are likely here to stay and have the potential to reach large numbers of those with unmet mental health needs, including PTSD-related concerns.

  View details for DOI 10.21037/mhealth.2018.05.07

  View details for PubMedID 30148141

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6087876

• The Influence of Team Functioning and Workload on Sustainability of Trauma-Focused Evidence-Based Psychotherapies. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) Mohr, D. C., Rosen, C. S., Schnurr, P. P., Orazem, R. J., Noorbaloochi, S., Clothier, B. A., Eftekhari, A., Bernardy, N. C., Chard, K. M., Crowley, J. J., Cook, J. M., Kehle-Forbes, S. M., Ruzek, J. I., Sayer, N. A. 2018: appips201700432

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: It has been over a decade since the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began formal dissemination and implementation of two trauma-focused evidence-based psychotherapies (TF-EBPs). The objective of this study was to examine the sustainability of the TF-EBPs and determine whether team functioning and workload were associated with TF-EBP sustainability.METHODS: This observational study used VA administrative data for 6,251 patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and surveys from 78 providers from 10 purposefully selected PTSD clinical teams located in nine VA medical centers. The outcome was sustainability of TF-EBPs, which was based on British National Health System Sustainability Index scores (possible scores range from 0 to 100.90). Primary predictors included team functioning, workload, and TB-EBP reach to patients with PTSD. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the influence of team functioning and workload on TF-EBP sustainability after adjustment for covariates that were significantly associated with sustainability.RESULTS: Sustainability Index scores ranged from 53.15 to 100.90 across the 10 teams. Regression models showed that after adjustment for patient and facility characteristics, team functioning was positively associated (B=9.16, p<.001) and workload was negatively associated (B=-.28, p<.05) with TF-EBP sustainability.CONCLUSIONS: There was considerable variation across teams in TF-EBP sustainability. The contribution of team functioning and workload to the sustainability of evidence-based mental health care warrants further study.

  View details for PubMedID 29793398

• Psychological Flexibility and Set-Shifting Among Veterans Participating in a Yoga Program: A Pilot Study. Military medicine Avery, T. n., Blasey, C. n., Rosen, C. n., Bayley, P. n. 2018

  Abstract

  Trauma-focused psychotherapies do not meet the needs of all veterans. Yoga shows some potential in reducing stress and perhaps even PTSD in veterans, although little is understood about the mechanisms of action. This study identifies preliminary correlates of change in PTSD and perceived stress for veterans participating in yoga.Nine veterans (seven males and two females) were recruited from an existing clinical yoga program and observed over 16 wk. Severity of PTSD symptoms (PCL-5) and perceived stress (PSS-10) were collected at baseline and weeks 4, 6, 8, and 16. Psychological flexibility (AAQ-II) and set-shifting (ratio of trail making test A to B) were collected at baseline and at week 6. Subjects attended yoga sessions freely, ranging from 1 to 23 classes over the 16 weeks. The Stanford University Institutional Review Board approved this research protocol.Self-reported PTSD symptoms significantly reduced while perceived stress did not. Lower baseline set-shifting predicted greater improvements in PTSD between baseline and 4 weeks; early improvements in set-shifting predicted overall reduction in PTSD. Greater psychological flexibility was associated with lower PTSD and perceived stress; more yoga practice, before and during the study, was associated with greater psychological flexibility. Other predictors were not supported.In a small uncontrolled sample, psychological flexibility and set-shifting predicted changes in PTSD symptoms in veterans participating in a clinical yoga program, which supports findings from prior research. Future research should include an active comparison group and record frequency of yoga practiced outside formal sessions.

  View details for PubMedID 29590487

• Community Clinicians and the Veterans Choice Program for PTSD Care Understanding Provider Interest During Early Implementation MEDICAL CARE Finley, E. P., Noel, P. H., Mader, M., Haro, E., Bernardy, N., Rosen, C. S., Bollinger, M., Garcia, H., Sherrieb, K., Pugh, M. V. 2017; 55 (7): S61–S70

  Abstract

  In 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) to provide reimbursement for community-based care to eligible veterans. Inadequate networks of participating providers may impact the utility of VCP for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a complex condition occurring at lower frequency among civilians.To compare characteristics and attitudes of community-based primary care and mental health providers reporting interest or no interest in VCP participation during early implementation; and to examine perceptions and experiences of VCP among "early adopters."Cross-sectional surveys with 2 samples: a stratified random sample of mental health and primary care prescribers and psychotherapists drawn from state licensing boards (Community Sample); and a stratified random sample of prescribers and psychotherapists identified as VCP-authorized providers (VCP-Authorized).Five hundred fifty-three respondents in the Community Sample and 115 in the VCP-Authorized (total, n=668; 21.1% response).Surveys assessed provider and practice characteristics, attitudes to VA and VCP, and experiences and satisfaction with the VCP; an open-ended survey item assessed providers' reasons for interest or lack of interest in VCP participation.Few providers reported VCP participation during this period. Interest in VCP participation was associated across provider groups with factors including being a veteran and receiving VA reimbursement; currently providing treatment for PTSD was associated with interest in VCP participation among psychotherapists, but not prescribers.Developing networks of VCP providers to serve Veterans with PTSD is likely to require targeting more receptive provider groups, reducing barriers to participation, and more effectively communicating the value of VCP participation to providers.

  View details for PubMedID 28146035

• Organizational factors differentiating VA PTSD outpatient teams with high and low delivery of evidence-based psychotherapy Sayer, N., Rosen, C., Orazem, R., Smith, B. BMC. 2017

  View details for Web of Science ID 000410978100021

• Engaging clinicians and veterans in efforts to decrease benzodiazepines in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): de-implementing through academic detailing Rosen, C. BMC. 2017

  View details for Web of Science ID 000410978100022

• Telehealth and eHealth interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder. Current opinion in psychology Morland, L. A., Greene, C. J., Rosen, C. S., Kuhn, E., Hoffman, J., Sloan, D. M. 2017; 14: 102-108

  Abstract

  This paper presents existing research describing how telehealth and eHealth technologies can be used to improve mental health services for trauma survivors, either by enhancing existing treatment approaches or as a stand-alone means of delivering trauma-relevant information and interventions. The potential ways in which telemedicine technologies aide in overcoming barriers to care is first addressed in terms of providing mental health treatment. We then outline how different telehealth and eHealth tools can be used for key therapeutic tasks, including the provision of self-guided interventions, remote delivery of psychotherapy, and augmentation of psychological treatments. We conclude by discussing key emergent issues that are shaping current and future use of telemedicine technologies as part of the continuum of care for trauma survivors.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.12.003

  View details for PubMedID 28813306

• PTSD Care Among Veterans With and Without Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders. Psychiatric services Mansfield, A. J., Greenbaum, M. A., Schaper, K. M., Banducci, A. N., Rosen, C. S. 2017: appips201600128-?

  Abstract

  This study examined whether a co-occurring substance use disorder contributed to disparities in receipt of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) specialty care or psychotherapy.Logistic regression, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, was used to examine predictors of PTSD care among 424,211 veterans with confirmed PTSD (two or more PTSD diagnosis encounters) who accessed care in a VHA facility between fiscal years 2009 and 2010.Overall, 16% of veterans had PTSD and a co-occurring substance use disorder diagnosis. In adjusted analyses, veterans with a co-occurring substance use disorder were more likely than veterans with PTSD alone to receive any outpatient PTSD specialty care and complete eight or more sessions of outpatient psychotherapy within 14 weeks, but they were less likely to be treated in inpatient PTSD specialty units.Co-occurring substance use disorders did not appear to hinder receipt of outpatient specialty PTSD treatment or of sufficient psychotherapy among VHA-enrolled veterans.

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.201600128

  View details for PubMedID 28245698

• Symptom Presentation and Prescription of Sleep Medications for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. journal of nervous and mental disease Greenbaum, M. A., Neylan, T. C., Rosen, C. S. 2017; 205 (2): 112-118

  Abstract

  This study tested whether sleep medications prescribed to veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being targeted to patients who report more severe insomnia or nightmares. Secondary analysis of survey and pharmacy data was conducted in samples of veterans from two periods: from 2006 to 2008 and from 2009 to 2013. Logistic regression tested associations between self-reported insomnia and nightmare severity, and being prescribed trazodone, prazosin, zolpidem, and benzodiazepines, controlling for PTSD severity and other covariates. In both samples, insomnia severity independently predicted trazodone receipt, and nightmare severity independently predicted prazosin receipt. In the later study, insomnia severity predicted receipt of zolpidem. Veterans in the later sample were more likely to receive trazodone, prazosin, and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, and less likely to receive benzodiazepines than those in the earlier sample. Further research is needed to evaluate and optimize pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for sleep problems among veterans with PTSD.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000657

  View details for PubMedID 28106623

• An RCT of Effects of Telephone Care Management on Treatment Adherence and Clinical Outcomes Among Veterans With PTSD PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Rosen, C. S., Azevedo, K. J., Tiet, Q. Q., Greene, C. J., Wood, A. E., Calhoun, P., Bowe, T., Capehart, B. P., Crawford, E. F., Greenbaum, M. A., Harris, A. H., Hertzberg, M., Lindley, S. E., Smith, B. N., Schnurr, P. P. 2017; 68 (2): 151-158

  Abstract

  This study assessed whether adding telephone care management to usual outpatient mental health care improved treatment attendance, medication compliance, and clinical outcomes of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).In a multisite randomized controlled trial, 358 veterans were assigned to either usual outpatient mental health treatment (N=165) or usual care plus twice-a-month telephone care management (TCM) and support in the first three months of treatment (N=193). Treatment utilization and medication refills were determined from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administrative data. PTSD, depression, quality of life, aggressive behavior, and substance use were assessed with self-report questionnaires at intake, four months, and 12 months.Telephone care managers reached 95% of TCM participants (N=182), completing an average 5.1 of 6.0 planned telephone calls. During the three-month intervention period, TCM participants completed 43% more mental health visits (M±SD=5.9±6.8) than did those in usual care (4.1±4.2) (incident rate ratio=1.36, χ(2)=6.56, df=1, p<.01). Treatment visits in the nine-month follow-up period and medication refills did not differ by condition. Only 9% of participants were scheduled to receive evidence-based psychotherapy. Slopes of improvement in PTSD, depression, alcohol misuse, drug problems, aggressive behavior, and quality of life did not differ by condition or treatment attendance.TCM improved PTSD patients' treatment attendance but not their outcomes. TCM can enhance treatment engagement, but outcomes depend on the effectiveness of the treatments that patients receive.

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.201600069

  View details for Web of Science ID 000397090500010

• Maintenance and Reach of Exposure Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 18 Months After Training. Journal of traumatic stress Rosen, C. S., Eftekhari, A., Crowley, J. J., Smith, B. N., Kuhn, E., Trent, L., Martin, N., Tran, T., Ruzek, J. I. 2017; 30 (1): 63-70

  Abstract

  This study examined aspects of clinicians' work environment that facilitated sustained use of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. Surveys were completed by 566 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians 6 and 18 months after intensive training in PE. The number of patients treated with PE at 18 months (reach) was modeled as a function of clinician demographics, clinician beliefs about PE, and work context factors. There were 342 clinicians (60.4%) who used PE at 6 and 18 months after training, 58 (10.2%) who used PE at 18 but not 6 months, 95 (16.7%) who used PE at 6 but not 18 months, and 71 (12.5%) who never adopted PE. Median reach was 12% of clinicians' appointments with patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. Reach was predicted by flow of interested patients (incident response ratio [IRR] = 1.21 to 1.51), PE's perceived effectiveness (IRR = 1.04 to 1.31), working in a PTSD specialty clinic (IRR = 1.06 to 1.26), seeing more patients weekly (IRR = 1.04 to 1.25), and seeing fewer patients in groups (IRR = 0.83 to 0.99). Most clinicians trained in PE sustained use of the treatment, but on a limited basis. Strategies to increase reach of PE should address organizational barriers and patient engagement.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.22153

  View details for PubMedID 28103401

• Post-training Beliefs, Intentions, and Use of Prolonged Exposure Therapy by Clinicians in the Veterans Health Administration ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH Ruzek, J. I., Eftekhari, A., Crowley, J., Kuhn, E., Karlin, B. E., Rosen, C. S. 2017; 44 (1): 123-132

  Abstract

  To examine how changes in beliefs during the training process predict adoption of prolonged exposure therapy (PE) by veterans health administration clinicians who received intensive training in this evidence-based treatment. Participants completed a 4-day PE workshop and received expert consultation as they used PE with two or more training cases. Participants were surveyed prior to the workshop, after the workshop, after case consultation (n = 1.034), and 6 months after training (n = 810). Hierarchical regression was used to assess how pre-training factors, and changes in beliefs during different stages of training incrementally predicted post-training intent to use PE and how many patients clinicians were treating with PE 6 months after training. Post-training intent to use PE was high (mean = 6.2, SD = 0.81 on a 1-7 scale), yet most participants treated only 1 or 2 patients at a time with PE. Pre-training factors predicted intent to use and actual use of PE. Changes in beliefs during the workshop had statistically significant yet modest effects on intent and use of PE. Changes in beliefs during case consultation had substantial effects on intent and actual use of PE. Pre-training factors and changes in beliefs during training (especially during case consultation) influence clinicians' adoption of PE. Use of PE was influenced not only by its perceived clinical advantages/disadvantages, but also by contextual factors (working in a PTSD specialty clinic, perceived control over one's schedule, and ability to promote PE to patients and colleagues).

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10488-015-0689-y

  View details for Web of Science ID 000392383600012

  View details for PubMedID 26487392

• Participatory System Dynamics Modeling: Increasing Stakeholder Engagement and Precision to Improve Implementation Planning in Systems. Administration and policy in mental health Zimmerman, L., Lounsbury, D. W., Rosen, C. S., Kimerling, R., Trafton, J. A., Lindley, S. E. 2016; 43 (6): 834-849

  Abstract

  Implementation planning typically incorporates stakeholder input. Quality improvement efforts provide data-based feedback regarding progress. Participatory system dynamics modeling (PSD) triangulates stakeholder expertise, data and simulation of implementation plans prior to attempting change. Frontline staff in one VA outpatient mental health system used PSD to examine policy and procedural "mechanisms" they believe underlie local capacity to implement evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for PTSD and depression. We piloted the PSD process, simulating implementation plans to improve EBP reach. Findings indicate PSD is a feasible, useful strategy for building stakeholder consensus, and may save time and effort as compared to trial-and-error EBP implementation planning.

  View details for PubMedID 27480546

• Peer Support and Outcome for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a Residential Rehabilitation Program COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL Jain, S., McLean, C., Adler, E. P., Rosen, C. S. 2016; 52 (8): 1089-1092

  Abstract

  This observational study aims to determine the characteristics of peer support that change attitudes toward recovery and PTSD symptom severity. The study respondents were a sample of 55 VA patients who were residents at a residential rehabilitation program for PTSD where they were the recipients of peer support. Veterans perceived greater support from other veterans (mean = 4.04 on 1-5 scale, SD = 0.78) than from any other source. Greater perceived support from the peer support provider, other veterans and mental health staff was associated with improvements from intake to discharge in recovery attitudes. Greater perceived support from other veterans and mental health staff was associated with an improvement in PTSD symptoms. Results from this study suggest that positive perceptions of peer support favorably influences attitudes toward recovery, from PTSD, in veterans who are the recipients of such support.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10597-015-9982-1

  View details for Web of Science ID 000388590000029

  View details for PubMedID 26839108

• A Review of Studies on the System-Wide Implementation of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Veterans Health Administration. Administration and policy in mental health Rosen, C. S., Matthieu, M. M., Wiltsey Stirman, S., Cook, J. M., Landes, S., Bernardy, N. C., Chard, K. M., Crowley, J., Eftekhari, A., Finley, E. P., Hamblen, J. L., Harik, J. M., Kehle-Forbes, S. M., MEIS, L. A., Osei-Bonsu, P. E., Rodriguez, A. L., RUGGIERO, K. J., Ruzek, J. I., Smith, B. N., Trent, L., Watts, B. V. 2016; 43 (6): 957-977

  Abstract

  Since 2006, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has instituted policy changes and training programs to support system-wide implementation of two evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To assess lessons learned from this unprecedented effort, we used PubMed and the PILOTS databases and networking with researchers to identify 32 reports on contextual influences on implementation or sustainment of EBPs for PTSD in VHA settings. Findings were initially organized using the exploration, planning, implementation, and sustainment framework (EPIS; Aarons et al. in Adm Policy Ment Health Health Serv Res 38:4-23, 2011). Results that could not be adequately captured within the EPIS framework, such as implementation outcomes and adopter beliefs about the innovation, were coded using constructs from the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance (RE-AIM) framework (Glasgow et al. in Am J Public Health 89:1322-1327, 1999) and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR; Damschroder et al. in Implement Sci 4(1):50, 2009). We highlight key areas of progress in implementation, identify continuing challenges and research questions, and discuss implications for future efforts to promote EBPs in large health care systems.

  View details for PubMedID 27474040

• Relationships Between Racial/Ethnic Minority Status, Therapeutic Alliance, and Treatment Expectancies Among Veterans With PTSD PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Koo, K. H., Tiet, Q. Q., Rosen, C. S. 2016; 13 (3): 317-321

  Abstract

  Our objective was to examine the relationships between veterans' racial/ethnic minority status, components of therapeutic alliance (bond, tasks, and goals) with former outpatient providers, and expectancies for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) residential treatment. Veterans (N = 819; 37% minority, 63% White) completed surveys at intake into VA PTSD residential treatment programs. As hypothesized, racial/ethnic minority status was related to weaker overall alliance, therapeutic bond, and goal agreement with former outpatient provider. Alliance with former provider was also associated with expectancies for residential treatment. After controlling for other variables, task agreement (not therapeutic bond) and racial/ethnic minority status were linked to higher expectancies. However, effect sizes were small. Thus, we found little evidence of clinically significant differences by racial/ethnic minority status on expectancies of VA PTSD residential treatment. Future research should investigate these relationships among veterans with PTSD not admitted to VA PTSD residential treatment and in other treatment settings, as well as nonveteran racial/ethnic minorities with PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record

  View details for DOI 10.1037/ser0000029

  View details for Web of Science ID 000383106000013

  View details for PubMedID 25915471

• Establishment of a national practice-based implementation network to accelerate adoption of evidence-based and best practices McGee-Vincent, P., Liu, N., Walser, R., Runnals, J., Shaw, R., Landes, S. J., Rosen, C., Schmidt, J., Calhoun, P. BMC. 2016

  View details for Web of Science ID 000410976900066

• Effects of a Comprehensive Training Program on Clinician Beliefs About and Intention to Use Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA-THEORY RESEARCH PRACTICE AND POLICY Ruzek, J. I., Eftekhari, A., Rosen, C. S., Crowley, J. J., Kuhn, E., Foa, E. B., Hembree, E. A., Karlin, B. E. 2016; 8 (3): 348-355

  Abstract

  Evidence for treatment efficacy does not guarantee adoption in clinical practice. Attitudinal "buy-in" from clinicians is also important. This study examines evaluation data from a national training program in an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, to assess changes in clinician beliefs related to the importance of specific treatment goals, PE outcome expectations, self-efficacy to deliver PE, perceived time and emotional burdens associated with delivering PE, and intentions to use PE.Training included both an interactive workshop and posttraining telephone consultation. Participants were 943 licensed mental health clinicians who treated veterans with PTSD. They completed questionnaires before and after the workshop, and after consultation.Results indicated that workshop participation was associated with significant increases in perceptions of the importance of helping patients improve by employing PE, expectations that patients would benefit from PE, and self-efficacy to deliver PE, and with reduced expectations of negative patient outcomes and concerns about distressing patients. The workshop alone had little impact on expected clinician emotional burden and no impact on anticipated time burden. Participation in ongoing case consultation was associated with additional increases in expected positive patient outcomes and clinician self-efficacy and further reductions in concerns about distressing patients and negative patient outcomes. Unlike the workshop, consultation was associated with decreased expectancies that PE would take too much time and would be emotionally burdensome to provide.Overall, the results suggest that the combination of workshop and ongoing consultation can significantly improve beliefs likely to affect treatment adoption. (PsycINFO Database Record

  View details for DOI 10.1037/tra0000004

  View details for Web of Science ID 000376205900012

  View details for PubMedID 26524541

• Multifaceted academic detailing program to increase pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder: interrupted time series evaluation of effectiveness. Addiction science & clinical practice Harris, A. H., Bowe, T., Hagedorn, H., Nevedal, A., Finlay, A. K., Gidwani, R., Rosen, C., Kay, C., Christopher, M. 2016; 11 (1): 15-?

  Abstract

  Active consideration of effective medications to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a consensus standard of care, yet knowledge and use of these medications are very low across diverse settings. This study evaluated the overall effectiveness a multifaceted academic detailing program to address this persistent quality problem in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA), as well as the context and process factors that explained variation in effectiveness across sites.An interrupted time series design, analyzed with mixed-effects segmented logistic regression, was used to evaluate changes in level and rate of change in the monthly percent of patients with a clinically documented AUD who received naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, or topiramate. Using data from a 20 month post-implementation period, intervention sites (n = 37) were compared to their own 16 month pre-implementation performance and separately to the rest of VHA.From immediately pre-intervention to the end of the observation period, the percent of patients in the intervention sites with AUD who received medication increased over 3.4 % in absolute terms and 68 % in relative terms (i.e., 4.9-8.3 %). This change was significant compared to the pre-implementation period in the intervention sites and secular trends in control sites. Sites with lower pre-implementation adoption, more person hours of detailing, but fewer people detailed, had larger immediate increases in medication receipt after implementation. The average number of detailing encounters per person was associated with steeper increases in slope over time.This study found empirical support for a multifaceted quality improvement strategy aimed at increasing access to and utilization of pharmacotherapy for AUD. Future studies should focus on determining how to enhance the programs effects, especially in non-responsive locations.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s13722-016-0063-8

  View details for PubMedID 27633982

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5025587

• TELEMEDICINE VERSUS IN-PERSON DELIVERY OF COGNITIVE PROCESSING THERAPY FOR WOMEN WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER: A RANDOMIZED NONINFERIORITY TRIAL DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY Morland, L. A., Mackintosh, M., Rosen, C. S., Willis, E., Resick, P., Chard, K., Frueh, B. C. 2015; 32 (11): 811-820

  Abstract

  This study examined the effectiveness of telemedicine to provide psychotherapy to women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who might be unable to access treatment. Objectives were to compare clinical and process outcomes of PTSD treatment delivered via videoteleconferencing (VTC) and in-person (NP) in an ethnically diverse sample of veteran and civilian women with PTSD.A randomized controlled trial of Cognitive Processing Therapy, an evidence-based intervention for PTSD, was conducted through a noninferiority design to compare delivery modalities on difference in posttreatment PTSD symptoms. Women with PTSD, including 21 veterans and 105 civilians, were assigned to receive psychotherapy delivered via VTC or NP. Primary treatment outcomes were changes in PTSD symptoms in the completer sample.Improvements in PTSD symptoms in the VTC condition (n = 63) were noninferior to outcomes in the NP condition (n = 63). Clinical outcomes obtained when both conditions were pooled together (N = 126) demonstrated that PTSD symptoms declined substantially posttreatment (mean = -20.5, 95% CI -29.6 to -11.4) and gains were maintained at 3- (mean = -20.8, 95% CI -30.1 to -11.5) and 6-month followup (mean = -22.0, 95% CI -33.1 to -10.9. Veterans demonstrated smaller symptom reductions posttreatment (mean = -9.4, 95% CI -22.5 to 3.7) than civilian women (mean = -22.7, 95% CI -29.9 to -15.5.Providing psychotherapy to women with PTSD via VTC produced outcomes comparable to NP treatment. VTC can increase access to specialty mental health care for women in rural or remote areas.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/da.22397

  View details for Web of Science ID 000364392300011

  View details for PubMedID 26243685

• The Effect of Medical Comorbidities on Male and Female Veterans' Use of Psychotherapy for PTSD. Medical care Breland, J. Y., Greenbaum, M. A., Zulman, D. M., Rosen, C. S. 2015; 53 (4): S120-7

  Abstract

  Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with an increased risk for medical comorbidities that may prevent participation in psychotherapy. The present study investigated whether medical comorbidities were associated with lower initiation rates and fewer psychotherapy visits for PTSD. Because women are more likely to initiate psychotherapy after traumatic events, we also assessed whether relationships were weaker among women.Veterans (N=482, 47% women) recently diagnosed with PTSD completed a survey assessing demographics, mood, functional status, and interest in treatment. Data on medical comorbidities, psychotherapy visits, antidepressant prescriptions, and service connection were assessed longitudinally through administrative files. Logistic and negative binomial regressions assessed associations between number of medical comorbidities in the 2 years before the survey and the initiation and number of psychotherapy visits for PTSD in the year after the survey. All analyses were stratified by sex and controlled for survey and administrative variables.The relationship between medical comorbidities and number of psychotherapy visits was stronger among women than among men. A greater number of medical comorbidities was associated with significantly fewer psychotherapy visits in the total sample [incidence rate ratio: 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83, 1.00] and among women (incidence rate ratio: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.99), but not among men (95% CI: 0.75, 1.01). Medical comorbidities were not associated with the initiation of psychotherapy among men or women.Addressing medical comorbidities may help individuals remain in psychotherapy for PTSD. Medical comorbidities may play a larger role in the number of psychotherapy visits among women than men.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000284

  View details for PubMedID 25767965

• One Day at a Time: The Experiences of Partners of Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (vol 45, pg 488, 2014) PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY-RESEARCH AND PRACTICE Mansfield, A. J., Schaper, K. M., Yanagida, A. M., Rosen, C. S. 2015; 46 (2): 106

  View details for DOI 10.1037/pro0000019

  View details for Web of Science ID 000353906700005

• Military Sexual Assault, Gender, and PTSD Treatment Outcomes of US Veterans JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Tiet, Q. Q., Leyva, Y. E., Blau, K., Turchik, J. A., Rosen, C. S. 2015; 28 (2): 92-101

  Abstract

  This study examined whether gender and military sexual assault (MSA) were associated with psychiatric severity differences at initiation of treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and whether MSA and gender predicted psychiatric treatment outcomes. Male (n = 726) and female (n = 111) patients were recruited from 7 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) PTSD specialty intensive treatment programs and completed an intake survey; 69% (n = 574) of the participants completed a 4-month postdischarge follow-up survey. Measures included current PTSD and depressive symptoms, aggressive/violent behaviors, alcohol and drug use severity, and quality of life. Multilevel multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the main and interaction effects of gender and MSA on psychiatric treatment outcomes at 4-month follow-up, including demographics, baseline severity, hostile fire, and treatment length of stay. Baseline PTSD severity did not differ by gender or MSA status, but women had more severe depressive symptoms (d = 0.40) and less aggressive/violent symptoms (d = -0.46) than men. Gender, MSA status, and the interaction between gender and MSA did not predict treatment outcomes as hypothesized. Male and female veterans with and without MSA responded equally well to treatment in VA PTSD intensive treatment programs.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.21992

  View details for Web of Science ID 000352818300002

  View details for PubMedID 25847514

• Training in the Implementation of Prolonged Exposure Therapy: Provider Correlates of Treatment Outcome JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Eftekhari, A., Crowley, J. J., Ruzek, J. I., Garvert, D. W., Karlin, B. E., Rosen, C. S. 2015; 28 (1): 65-68

  Abstract

  The authors examined the degree to which provider characteristics, such as profession, treatment orientation, prior experience in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), prior experience with prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, and attitudes about PE, were related to the clinical outcomes of veterans receiving care from clinicians participating in the national Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) PE Training Program. Positive patient outcomes were achieved by providers of every profession, theoretical orientation, level of clinical experience treating PTSD, and prior PE training experience. With 1,105 providers and 32 predictors (13 provider variables), power was at least 90% power to detect an effect of β = .15. Profession was the only provider characteristic significantly related to outcomes, but the mean effect (a 2 point difference on the PTSD Checklist) was too small to be clinically meaningful. The results support the intensive training model used in the VA PE training program and demonstrate that clinicians of varying backgrounds can be trained using interactive training workshops followed by case consultation to deliver PE effectively.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.21980

  View details for Web of Science ID 000349986900009

  View details for PubMedID 25630446

• Associations of Psychotherapy Dose and SSRI or SNRI Refills With Mental Health Outcomes Among Veterans With PTSD PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Shin, H. J., Greenbaum, M. A., Jain, S., Rosen, C. S. 2014; 65 (10): 1244-1248

  Abstract

  This study assessed associations between psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and longitudinal changes in PTSD, depression, and mental health functioning among U.S. veterans diagnosed as having PTSD.Information about self-reported symptoms experienced from .5 to over three years was collected from 482 veterans diagnosed as having PTSD. Administrative data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) were used to calculate initiation of a course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), days of medication coverage, and number of PTSD-related psychotherapy visits during the year after a baseline survey. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze the effects of psychotherapy dose, initiation of an SSRI or SNRI, and medication coverage on symptoms over one year.In the year after baseline, over half of the sample (55%) received no psychotherapy for PTSD, and only 8% met the VA's proposed standard of eight PTSD-related sessions within 14 weeks. Nearly half of the participants (47%) were prescribed an SSRI or SNRI and 37% completed a 90-day trial in the year after baseline. Participants' symptoms improved slightly over time. Participants who received eight or more psychotherapy sessions in 14 weeks, completed a 90-day course of SSRIs or SNRIs, or had more days of medication coverage did not improve more than participants who received less treatment.These dose-of-care benchmarks were not related to symptom improvement, highlighting the importance of directly assessing the impact of particular treatments on patient outcomes rather than solely relying on process measures.

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.201300234

  View details for Web of Science ID 000342477200011

• Peeking into the black box: Mechanisms of action for anger management treatment JOURNAL OF ANXIETY DISORDERS Mackintosh, M., Morland, L. A., Frueh, B. C., Greene, C. J., Rosen, C. S. 2014; 28 (7): 687-695

  Abstract

  We investigated potential mechanisms of action for anger symptom reductions, specifically, the roles of anger regulation skills and therapeutic alliance on changes in anger symptoms, following group anger management treatment (AMT) among combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data were drawn from a published randomized controlled trial of AMT conducted with a racially diverse group of 109 veterans with PTSD and anger symptoms residing in Hawaii. Results of latent growth curve models indicated that gains in calming skills predicted significantly larger reductions in anger symptoms at post-treatment, while the development of cognitive coping and behavioral control skills did not predict greater symptom reductions. Therapeutic alliance had indirect effects on all outcomes mostly via arousal calming skills. Results suggest that generalized symptom reduction may be mediated by development of skills in calming physiological arousal. In addition, arousal reduction skills appeared to enhance one's ability to employ other anger regulation skills.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.07.001

  View details for Web of Science ID 000342121900008

  View details for PubMedID 25124505

• Predictors of Anger Treatment Outcomes JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Mackintosh, M., Morland, L. A., Kloezeman, K., Greene, C. J., Rosen, C. S., Elhai, J. D., Frueh, B. C. 2014; 70 (10): 905-913

  Abstract

  This study investigated predictors of therapeutic outcomes for veterans who received treatment for dysregulated anger.Data are from a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of video teleconferencing compared to in-person delivery of anger management therapy (AMT) among 125 military veterans. Multilevel modeling was used to assess 2 types of predictors (demographic characteristics and mental health factors) of changes in anger symptoms after treatment.Results showed that while veterans benefited similarly from treatment across modalities, veterans who received two or more additional mental health services and who had longer commutes to care showed the greatest improvement on a composite measure of self-reported anger symptoms.Results highlight that veterans with a range of psychosocial and mental health characteristics benefited from AMT, while those receiving the most additional concurrent mental health services had better outcomes.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jclp.22095

  View details for Web of Science ID 000342235900001

• Factors Related to Clinician Attitudes Toward Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Ruzek, J. I., Eftekhari, A., Rosen, C. S., Crowley, J. J., Kuhn, E., Foa, E. B., Hembree, E. A., Karlin, B. E. 2014; 27 (4): 423-429

  Abstract

  This study examines pretraining attitudes toward prolonged exposure (PE) therapy in a sample of 1,275 mental health clinicians enrolled in a national PE training program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Attitudes assessed via survey included values placed on outcomes targeted by PE, outcome expectancies (positive expectancies for patient improvement and negative expectancies related to patient deterioration, clinician time burden, and clinician emotional burden), and self-efficacy for delivering PE. Results indicated that clinicians were receptive to learning PE and had positive expectations about the treatment, but expressed concerns that PE might increase patient distress. Responses varied by clinician characteristics with psychologists, clinicians working in specialty PTSD treatment settings (as opposed to those in mental health clinics and other clinic types), and those with a primarily cognitive-behavioral orientation expressing attitudes that were most supportive of learning and implementing PE across various indicators. Implications for addressing attitudinal barriers to implementation of PE therapy are discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.21945

  View details for Web of Science ID 000341198000006

  View details for PubMedID 25158635

• Preferences for Gender-Targeted Health Information: A Study of Male Veterans Who Have Experienced Military Sexual Trauma AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH Turchik, J. A., Rafie, S., Rosen, C. S., Kimerling, R. 2014; 8 (3): 240-248

  Abstract

  No prior research has examined men's opinions or preferences regarding receiving health education materials related to sexual violence. The objective of the current study was to investigate whether male veteran patients who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST) prefer gender-targeted versus gender-neutral printed health information and whether receipt of this information increased utilization of outpatient mental health services in the following 6-month period. In-person 45-minute interviews were conducted with 20 male veterans receiving health care services at a large Veterans Health Administration facility to evaluate opinions on a gender-targeted and a gender-neutral brochure about MST. An additional 153 veterans received psychoeducational materials through the mail and participated in the completion of a survey as part of a psychoeducational intervention. Our results demonstrate that male veterans prefer gender-targeted information about sexual trauma compared to gender-neutral information. Whereas veterans in the study had clear preferences for gender-targeted materials, receipt of information about MST (whether gender-targeted or gender-neutral) did not increase utilization of mental health care in the 6 months following receipt of these materials. These results demonstrated that materials about sexual trauma are acceptable to men and should be gender-targeted. Further research is needed to examine strategies to increase access to mental health care among male Veterans who have experienced MST.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/1557988313508304

  View details for Web of Science ID 000334429900006

  View details for PubMedID 24232582

• Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Delivered to Rural Veterans via Telemental Health: A Randomized Noninferiority Clinical Trial JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY Morland, L. A., Mackintosh, M., Greene, C. J., Rosen, C. S., Chard, K. M., Resick, P., Frueh, B. C. 2014; 75 (5): 470-476

  Abstract

  To compare clinical and process outcomes of cognitive processing therapy-cognitive only version (CPT-C) delivered via videoteleconferencing (VTC) to in-person in a rural, ethnically diverse sample of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).A randomized clinical trial with a noninferiority design was used to determine if providing CPT-C via VTC is effective and "as good as" in-person delivery. The study took place between March 2009 and June 2013. PTSD was diagnosed per DSM-IV. Participants received 12 sessions of CPT-C via VTC (n = 61) or in-person (n = 64). Assessments were administered at baseline, midtreatment, immediately posttreatment, and 3 and 6 months posttreatment. The primary clinical outcome was posttreatment PTSD severity, as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale.Clinical and process outcomes found VTC to be noninferior to in-person treatment. Significant reductions in PTSD symptoms were identified at posttreatment (Cohen d = 0.78, P < .05) and maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up (d = 0.73, P < .05 and d = 0.76, P < .05, respectively). High levels of therapeutic alliance, treatment compliance, and satisfaction and moderate levels of treatment expectancies were reported, with no differences between groups (for all comparisons, F < 1.9, P > .17).Providing CPT-C to rural residents with PTSD via VTC produced outcomes that were "as good as" in-person treatment. All participants demonstrated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms posttreatment and at follow-up. Results indicate that VTC can offer increased access to specialty mental health care for residents of rural or remote areas.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00879255.

  View details for DOI 10.4088/JCP.13m08842

  View details for Web of Science ID 000337255400010

  View details for PubMedID 24922484

• Telemedicine: A Cost-Reducing Means of Delivering Psychotherapy to Rural Combat Veterans with PTSD TELEMEDICINE AND E-HEALTH Morland, L. A., Raab, M., Mackintosh, M., Rosen, C. S., Dismuke, C. E., Greene, C. J., Frueh, B. C. 2013; 19 (10): 754-759

  Abstract

  Although effective psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist, high percentages of Veterans in need of services are unable to access them. One particular challenge to providing cost-effective psychological treatments to Veterans with PTSD involves the difficulty and high cost of delivering in-person, specialized psychotherapy to Veterans residing in geographically remote locations. The delivery of these services via clinical videoteleconferencing (CVT) has been presented as a potential solution to this access to care problem.This study is a retrospective cost analysis of a randomized controlled trial investigating telemedicine service delivery of an anger management therapy for Veterans with PTSD. The parent trial found that the CVT condition provided clinical results that were comparable to the in-person condition. Several cost outcomes were calculated in order to investigate the clinical and cost outcomes associated with the CVT delivery modality relative to in-person delivery.The CVT condition was significantly associated with lower total costs compared with the in-person delivery condition. The delivery of mental health services via CVT enables Veterans who would not normally receive these services access to empirically based treatments. Additional studies addressing long-term healthcare system costs, indirect cost factors at the patient and societal levels, and the use of CVT in other geographic regions of the United States are needed.The results of this study provide evidence that CVT is a cost-reducing mode of service delivery to Veterans with PTSD relative to in-person delivery.

  View details for DOI 10.1089/tmj.2012.0298

  View details for Web of Science ID 000325132300005

  View details for PubMedID 23931729

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3787338

• Presenting Concerns of Veterans Entering Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Rosen, C., Adler, E., Tiet, Q. 2013; 26 (5): 640-643

  Abstract

  Patient-centered care involves engaging patients as partners in establishing treatment priorities. No prior studies have examined what specific problems veterans hope to address when they enter posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. Veterans starting outpatient (n = 216) and residential (n = 812) PTSD treatment in 2 multisite care management trials specified (open-ended) the 2 or 3 problems that they most wanted to improve through treatment. Over 80% mentioned PTSD-symptom-related concerns including PTSD or trauma (19.2% to 19.9% of patients), anger (31.0% to 36.7%), sleep problems (14.3% to 27.3%), nightmares (12.3% to 19.4%), and estrangement/isolation (7.9% to 20.8%). Other common problems involved depression (23.1% to 36.5%), anxiety not specific to PTSD (23.9% to 27.8%), relationships (20.4% to 24.5%), and improving coping or functioning (19.2% to 20.4%). Veterans' treatment goals varied significantly by outpatient versus residential setting, gender, and period of military service. Our findings confirm the importance of educating patients about how available efficacious treatments relate to clients' personal goals. Our results also suggest that clinicians should be prepared to offer interventions or provide referrals for common problems such as anger, nightmares, sleep, depression, or relationship difficulties if these problems do not remit with trauma-focused psychotherapy or if patients are unwilling to undergo trauma-focused treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.21841

  View details for Web of Science ID 000326284900018

  View details for PubMedID 24123262

• Effectiveness of National Implementation of Prolonged Exposure Therapy in Veterans Affairs Care JAMA PSYCHIATRY Eftekhari, A., Ruzek, J. I., Crowley, J. J., Rosen, C. S., Greenbaum, M. A., Karlin, B. E. 2013; 70 (9): 949-955

  Abstract

  IMPORTANCE Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a pervasive and often debilitating condition that affects many individuals in the general population and military service members. Effective treatments for PTSD are greatly needed for both veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and veterans of other eras. Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy has been shown to be highly efficacious in clinical trials involving women with noncombat trauma, but there are limited data on its effectiveness in real-world clinical practice settings and with veterans. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of PE as implemented with veterans with PTSD in a large health care system. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This evaluation included 1931 veterans treated by 804 clinicians participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) PE Training Program. After completing a 4-day experiential PE training workshop, clinicians implemented PE (while receiving consultation) with a minimum of 2 veteran patients who had a primary diagnosis of PTSD. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Changes in PTSD and depression symptoms were assessed with the PTSD Checklist and the Beck Depression Inventory II, measured at baseline and at the final treatment session. Multiple and single imputation were used to estimate the posttest scores of patients who left treatment before completing 8 sessions. Demographic predictors of treatment dropout were also examined. RESULTS Intent-to-treat analyses indicate that PE is effective in reducing symptoms of both PTSD (pre-post d = 0.87) and depression (pre-post d = 0.66), with effect sizes comparable to those reported in previous efficacy trials. The proportion of patients screening positive for PTSD on the PTSD Checklist decreased from 87.6% to 46.2%. CONCLUSIONS Clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms were achieved among male and female veterans of all war eras and veterans with combat-related and non-combat-related PTSD. Results also indicate that PE is effective in reducing depression symptoms, even though depression is not a direct target of the treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.36

  View details for Web of Science ID 000325182200010

  View details for PubMedID 23863892

• Perceived Barriers to Care and Provider Gender Preferences Among Veteran Men Who Have Experienced Military Sexual Trauma: A Qualitative Analysis PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Turchik, J. A., McLean, C., Rafie, S., Hoyt, T., Rosen, C. S., Kimerling, R. 2013; 10 (2): 213-222

  Abstract

  Research suggests that there may be unique barriers to accessing care among men who have experienced sexual trauma. The primary goal of the current research was to elucidate potential barriers to accessing military sexual trauma (MST)-related care for male veterans. A secondary goal was to explore whether veterans have preferences regarding the gender of clinicians providing MST-related care. Qualitative analyses were used to examine data collected from semistructured interviews conducted with 20 male veterans enrolled in Veterans Health Administration care who reported MST but who had not received any MST-related mental health care. Veterans identified a number of potential barriers, with the majority of reported barriers relating to issues of stigma and gender. Regarding provider gender preferences, veterans were mixed, with 50% preferring a female provider, 25% a male provider, and 25% reporting no gender preference. These preliminary data suggest that stigma, gender, and knowledge-related barriers may exist for men regarding seeking MST-related care. Interventions to address potential barriers, such as outreach interventions and providing gender-specific psychoeducation, may increase access to care for male veterans who report MST. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/a0029959

  View details for Web of Science ID 000319802300010

  View details for PubMedID 22984877

• The association between substance use disorders and mortality among a cohort of Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: Variation by age cohort and mortality type DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE Bohnert, K. M., Ilgen, M. A., Rosen, C. S., Desai, R. A., Austin, K., Blow, F. C. 2013; 128 (1-2): 98-103

  Abstract

  Prior studies of Veterans have linked posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with an increased risk of mortality. Other studies of Veterans have found that substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with an excess risk of mortality among those with psychiatric disorders. It is not known whether having an SUD increases the risk of mortality among Veterans with PTSD, and whether the association differs by mortality type or varies by age cohort.A cohort of patients who received Veterans Health Administration services during fiscal year (FY) 2004 and diagnosed with PTSD (n=272,509) were followed from FY 2005 through FY 2007 for the main outcomes of mortality and cause of death.SUD was positively associated with mortality during follow-up (adjusted hazards ratio: 1.70; 95% confidence interval: 1.64, 1.77). SUD was a stronger predictor of non-injury-related mortality for the <45 years group compared with the 45-64 or ≥65 group. SUD predicted injury-related mortality for all age groups.Among Veterans with PTSD, the association between SUD and mortality was most pronounced for the youngest age group, which included Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans. For older age groups, which included Vietnam-era Veterans, SUD was a greater predictor of injury-related mortality. The findings could be useful for identifying PTSD patients at excess risk of mortality.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.08.015

  View details for Web of Science ID 000314331700015

  View details for PubMedID 22974491

• High-value care for PTSD. Psychiatric services Rosen, C. S. 2013; 64 (2): 201-?

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.640203

  View details for PubMedID 23370629

• Telephone Monitoring and Support After Discharge From Residential PTSD Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Rosen, C. S., Tiet, Q. Q., Harris, A. H., Julian, T. F., McKay, J. R., Moore, W. M., Owen, R. R., Rogers, S., Rosito, O., Smith, D. E., Smith, M. W., Schnurr, P. P. 2013; 64 (1): 13-20

  Abstract

  This study assessed whether adding a telephone care management protocol to usual aftercare improved the outcomes of veterans in the year after they were discharged from residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).In a multisite randomized controlled trial, 837 veterans entering residential PTSD treatment were assigned to receive either standard outpatient aftercare (N=425) or standard aftercare plus biweekly telephone monitoring and support (N=412) for three months after discharge. Symptoms of PTSD and depression, violence, substance use, and quality of life were assessed by self-report questionnaires at intake, discharge, and four and 12 months postdischarge. Treatment utilization was determined from the Department of Veterans Affairs administrative data.Telephone case monitors reached 355 participants (86%) by phone at least once and provided an average of 4.5 of the six calls planned. Participants in the telephone care and treatment-as-usual groups showed similar outcomes on all clinical measures. Time to rehospitalization did not differ by condition. In contrast with prior studies reporting poor treatment attendance among veterans, participants in both telephone monitoring and treatment as usual completed a mental health visit an average of once every ten days in the year after discharge. Many participants had continuing problems despite high utilization of outpatient care.Telephone care management had little incremental value for patients who were already high utilizers of mental health services. Telephone care management could potentially be beneficial in settings where patients experience greater barriers to engaging with outpatient mental health care after discharge from inpatient treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.201200142

  View details for Web of Science ID 000313299500005

  View details for PubMedID 23117443

• Do Benzodiazepines Reduce the Effectiveness of Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY Rosen, C. S., Greenbaum, M. A., Schnurr, P. P., Holmes, T. H., Brennan, P. L., Friedman, M. J. 2013; 74 (12): 1241-1247

  Abstract

  Benzodiazepines, other anxiolytics, or sedative hypnotics are prescribed for 30%-50% of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. Prior data and theory suggest that these medications may inhibit response to exposure therapy, one of the most effective PTSD treatments. The present post hoc study reanalyzed results from a psychotherapy trial to assess whether benzodiazepine use was associated with reduced response to exposure therapy.Between August 2002 and October 2005, 283 female veterans and soldiers meeting DSM-IV criteria for PTSD were randomly assigned to 10 weekly 90-minute sessions of either prolonged exposure (n = 140) or present-centered psychotherapy (n = 143). Benzodiazepine use (n = 57) or non-use (n = 226) at intake was not randomly assigned. Multilevel modeling was used to assess the effects of benzodiazepine status, psychotherapy condition, and their interaction on changes on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale and the PTSD Checklist during the treatment and 6-month follow-up periods.Consistent with prior reports from these data, prolonged exposure psychotherapy produced greater reductions per week in PTSD symptoms than did present-centered psychotherapy (b = -0.48, P = .02). Patients prescribed benzodiazepines did not have weaker response to prolonged exposure, but demonstrated poorer posttreatment maintenance of gains from present-centered psychotherapy (b = -0.78, P < .001).Prolonged exposure is a sufficiently robust treatment that patients who are taking benzodiazepines can benefit from it. It is unclear whether benzodiazepine use or other patient factors accounted for benzodiazepine recipients' poorer maintenance of gains in present-centered psychotherapy.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00032617.

  View details for DOI 10.4088/JCP.13m08592

  View details for Web of Science ID 000330187000014

  View details for PubMedID 24434093

• Longitudinal Correlates of Aggressive Behavior in Help-Seeking U.S. Veterans With PTSD JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Shin, H. J., Rosen, C. S., Greenbaum, M. A., Jain, S. 2012; 25 (6): 649-656

  Abstract

  The current study examined the longitudinal effects of clinical and treatment utilization factors on aggressive behavior among 376 help-seeking U.S. veterans recently diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who were followed for 5-12 months. Participants were sampled from 4 strata: male Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, female Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, male prior-era veterans, and female prior-era veterans. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that changes in PTSD severity were significantly associated with changes in aggressive behavior among veterans who reported any aggression at baseline (β = .15). Changes in days of alcohol intoxication also were positively associated with changes in aggressive behavior (β = .16). Participants with both a benzodiazepine prescription and any baseline aggression were significantly more likely to increase in aggressive behavior over time (β = .14). Contrary to our hypotheses, reductions in aggressive behavior were not related to the number of outpatient mental health visits or to first-line recommended psychotropic medications. Results inform assessment and clinical research on changes in aggressive behavior among veterans with PTSD.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.21761

  View details for Web of Science ID 000312151400006

  View details for PubMedID 23225031

• Evaluation of a Mentoring Program for PTSD Clinic Managers in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Rosen, C. S., Nguyen, T., Bernardy, N. C., Hamblen, J. L., Ruzek, J. I., Friedman, M. J. 2012; 63 (10): 1047-1050

  Abstract

  This evaluation study elicited feedback from participants in a novel program intended to help posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) clinical managers address organizational challenges in providing services and improving care.Program participants were invited to respond to an online survey developed for this study; 46% (N=121) responded.Two-thirds of survey respondents had engaged in mentoring program activities ten or more times in the past six months. Roughly half the respondents reported that the program helped them be more connected to other clinics, learn about innovations in care, and feel more supported. Those who participated more often (β=.25, p<.01) and rated their mentors highly (β=.59, p<.01) reported greater benefits from the program.Mentees who were actively engaged with the mentoring program reported significant benefits. Efforts are under way to enhance the program by strengthening mentor selection and training.

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.201100446

  View details for Web of Science ID 000309488100016

  View details for PubMedID 23032678

• Compensation and Treatment: Disability Benefits and Outcomes of US Veterans Receiving Residential PTSD Treatment JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Belsher, B. E., Tiet, Q. Q., Garvert, D. W., Rosen, C. S. 2012; 25 (5): 494-502

  Abstract

  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides specialized intensive posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) programs to treat trauma-related symptoms in addition to providing service-connected disability to compensate veterans for injury sustained while serving in the military. Given the percentage of veterans who are receiving treatment for PTSD, in addition to seeking compensation for PTSD, a debate has emerged about the impact of compensation on symptom recovery. This study examined the associations among status of compensation, treatment expectations, military cohort, length of stay, and outcomes for 776 veterans who were enrolled in 5 VA residential PTSD programs between the years of 2005 and 2010. Mixed model longitudinal analyses, with age, gender, and baseline symptoms nested within treatment site in the model, found that treatment expectations were modestly predictive of treatment outcomes. Veterans seeking increased compensation reported marginally lower treatment expectations (d = .008), and did not experience poorer outcomes compared to veterans not seeking increased compensation with the effect of baseline symptoms partialled out. Veterans from the era of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts reported lower treatment expectations (d = .020) and slightly higher symptoms at intake (d = .021), but had outcomes at discharge equivalent to veterans from other eras with baseline symptoms partialled out. These findings help further inform the debate concerning disability benefits and symptom changes across time.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.21747

  View details for Web of Science ID 000310251500002

  View details for PubMedID 23047625

• Treating Anger and Aggression in Military Populations: Research Updates and Clinical Implications CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY-SCIENCE AND PRACTICE Morland, L. A., Love, A. R., Mackintosh, M., Greene, C. J., Rosen, C. S. 2012; 19 (3): 305-322

  View details for DOI 10.1111/cpsp.12007

  View details for Web of Science ID 000310486500009

• Is There a Role for Peer Support Delivered Interventions in the Treatment of Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? MILITARY MEDICINE Jain, S., McLean, C., Rosen, C. S. 2012; 177 (5): 481-483

  View details for Web of Science ID 000303623100003

  View details for PubMedID 22645871

• Concordance between psychotropic prescribing for veterans with PTSD and clinical practice guidelines. Psychiatric services Jain, S., Greenbaum, M. A., Rosen, C. 2012; 63 (2): 154-160

  Abstract

  Clinical practice guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not support the use of benzodiazepines and cite insufficient evidence to recommend mood stabilizers. Although guidelines previously recommended second-generation antipsychotics as adjunct medication, recent research findings have also brought this recommendation into question. This study aimed to determine which characteristics of veterans with diagnosed PTSD were associated with receiving prescriptions for benzodiazepines and mood stabilizers and second-generation antipsychotics.The survey responses of 482 veterans with PTSD were combined with prescription information from Veterans Affairs national pharmacy databases. The researchers assessed the use of eight classes of psychotropics prescribed for patients with PTSD in the year after a new PTSD diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regressions identified demographic characteristics, symptom severity, co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses, health service use, and attitudinal characteristics associated with prescribing of benzodiazepines, second-generation antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.In the absence of a clearly indicated co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis, long-term benzodiazepines were prescribed to 14%, second-generation antipsychotics to 15%, and mood stabilizers to 18% of veterans with PTSD. Benzodiazepine prescribing was associated with symptoms of insomnia. Having a mental health inpatient stay (odds ratio [OR]=8.01, p<.001) and at least one psychotherapy visit (OR=5.37, p<.001) were predictors of being prescribed a second-generation antipsychotic. Reporting more symptom severity (OR=1.84, p<.001) and fewer alcohol use problems (OR=.36, p<.03) predicted being prescribed a mood stabilizer.Prescribing patterns appeared generally consistent with treatment guidelines. Notable exceptions and areas worthy of future attention are discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.201100199

  View details for PubMedID 22302333

• How do components of evidence-based psychological treatment cluster in practice? A survey and cluster analysis JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT Gifford, E. V., Tavakoli, S., Weingardt, K. R., Finney, J. W., Pierson, H. M., Rosen, C. S., Hagedorn, H. J., Cook, J. M., Curran, G. M. 2012; 42 (1): 45-55

  Abstract

  Evidence-based psychological treatments (EBPTs) are clusters of interventions, but it is unclear how providers actually implement these clusters in practice. A disaggregated measure of EBPTs was developed to characterize clinicians' component-level evidence-based practices and to examine relationships among these practices. Survey items captured components of evidence-based treatments based on treatment integrity measures. The Web-based survey was conducted with 75 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) substance use disorder (SUD) practitioners and 149 non-VA community-based SUD practitioners. Clinician's self-designated treatment orientations were positively related to their endorsement of those EBPT components; however, clinicians used components from a variety of EBPTs. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that clinicians combined and organized interventions from cognitive-behavioral therapy, the community reinforcement approach, motivational interviewing, structured family and couples therapy, 12-step facilitation, and contingency management into clusters including empathy and support, treatment engagement and activation, abstinence initiation, and recovery maintenance. Understanding how clinicians use EBPT components may lead to improved evidence-based practice dissemination and implementation.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsat.2011.07.008

  View details for Web of Science ID 000297956900006

  View details for PubMedID 21943809

• Do veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder receive first-line pharmacotherapy? Results from the longitudinal veterans health survey. The primary care companion to CNS disorders Jain, S., Greenbaum, M. A., Rosen, C. S. 2012; 14 (2)

  Abstract

  Objective: Guidelines addressing the treatment of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) strongly recommend a therapeutic trial of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This study examined veteran characteristics associated with receiving such first-line pharmacotherapy, as well as how being a veteran of the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq impact receipt of pharmacotherapy for PTSD.Method: This was a national study of 482 Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatients between the ages of 18 and 69 years who had been newly diagnosed with PTSD (DSM-IV criteria: 309.81) during a VA outpatient visit between May 31, 2006, and December 7, 2007. Participants completed a mailed survey between August 11, 2006, and April 6, 2008. Veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts and female veterans were intentionally oversampled. Logistic regression models were developed to predict 2 dependent variables: odds of initiating an SSRI/SNRI and, among veterans who initiated an SSRI/SNRI, odds of receiving an adequate therapeutic trial. Each dependent variable was regressed on a variety of sociodemographic and survey characteristics.Results: Of the 377 veterans prescribed a psychotropic medication, 73% (n = 276) received an SSRI/SNRI, of whom 61% (n = 168) received a therapeutic trial. Afghanistan and Iraq veterans were less likely to receive a therapeutic trial (odds ratio [OR] = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.27-0.75; P < .01), with presence of a comorbid depression diagnosis in the year after the index episode moderating this relationship, which further decreased the odds of completing a therapeutic trial (OR = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.09-0.95; P < .05).Conclusions: Reduced levels of receipt of first-line pharmacotherapy among recent veteran returnees parallel previous findings of less mental health treatment utilization in this population and warrant investigation.

  View details for DOI 10.4088/PCC.11m01162

  View details for PubMedID 22943028

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3425460

• Stigma, Help-Seeking Attitudes, and Use of Psychotherapy in Veterans With Diagnoses of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder JOURNAL OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASE Rosen, C. S., Greenbaum, M. A., Fitt, J. E., Laffaye, C., Norris, V. A., Kimerling, R. 2011; 199 (11): 879-885

  Abstract

  Survey and medical record data from 482 Veterans Affairs (VA) patients who recently received diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined to determine need and predisposing factors associated with utilization of psychotherapy and counseling. More than half (58%) of participants initiated VA psychotherapy for PTSD within a year of diagnosis. Of those, one third completed eight or more sessions. Roughly two thirds of participants initiated counseling at a Vet Center. Initiating PTSD psychotherapy was associated with greater impairment but not with stigma, concerns about fitting in, or satisfaction with care. The use of Vet Center counseling was associated with desire for help, concerns about fitting in, and satisfaction with care. Unexpectedly, veterans with greater stigma concerns completed more psychotherapy visits and Vet Center counseling. Negative attitudes about mental health treatment did not seem to be substantial barriers to engaging in psychotherapy among these VA patients. Future research should consider enabling treatment system factors in addition to predisposing patient characteristics.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3182349ea5

  View details for Web of Science ID 000296712800011

  View details for PubMedID 22048141

• The Comparative Effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy for Male Veterans Treated in a VHA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Residential Rehabilitation Program JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Alvarez, J., McLean, C., Harris, A. H., Rosen, C. S., Ruzek, J. I., Kimerling, R. 2011; 79 (5): 590-599

  Abstract

  To examine the effectiveness of group cognitive processing therapy (CPT) relative to trauma-focused group treatment as usual (TAU) in the context of a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) residential rehabilitation program.Participants were 2 cohorts of male patients in the same program treated with either CPT (n = 104) or TAU (n = 93; prior to the implementation of CPT). Cohorts were compared on changes from pre- to posttreatment using the PTSD Checklist (PCL; Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, & Keane, 1993) and other measures of symptoms and functioning. Minorities represented 41% of the sample, and the mean age was 52 years (SD = 9.22). The CPT group was significantly younger and less likely to receive disability benefits for PTSD; however, these variables were not related to outcome.Analyses of covariance controlling for intake symptom levels and cohort differences revealed that CPT participants evidenced more symptom improvement at discharge than TAU participants on the PCL, F(3, 193) = 15.32, p < .001, b = 6.25, 95% CI [3.06, 9.44], and other measures. In addition, significantly more patients treated with CPT were classified as "recovered" or "improved" at discharge, χ2(1, N = 197) = 4.93, p = .032.There is still room for improvement, as substantial numbers of veterans continue to experience significant symptoms even after treatment with CPT in a residential program. However, CPT appears to produce significantly more symptom improvement than treatment conducted before the implementation of CPT. The implementation of this empirically supported treatment in VHA settings is both feasible and sustainable and is likely to improve care for male veterans with military-related PTSD.

  View details for DOI 10.1037/a0024466

  View details for Web of Science ID 000295339900003

  View details for PubMedID 21744946

• Perceived Barriers to Care Among Veterans Health Administration Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Ouimette, P., Vogt, D., Wade, M., Tirone, V., Greenbaum, M. A., Kimerling, R., Laffaye, C., Fitt, J. E., Rosen, C. S. 2011; 8 (3): 212-223

  View details for DOI 10.1037/a0024360

  View details for Web of Science ID 000294139400006

• Therapist Adherence to Manualized Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anger Management Delivered to Veterans With PTSD Via Videoconferencing JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Morland, L. A., Greene, C. J., Grubbs, K., Kloezeman, K., Mackintosh, M., Rosen, C., Frueh, B. C. 2011; 67 (6): 629-638

  Abstract

  Therapist adherence to a manualized cognitive-behavioral anger management group treatment (AMT) was compared between therapy delivered via videoconference (VC) and the traditional in-person modality, using data from a large, randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of AMT for veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Therapist adherence was rated for the presence or absence of process and content treatment elements. Secondary analyses were conducted using a repeated measures ANOVA. Overall adherence to the protocol was excellent (M = 96%, SD = 1%). Findings indicate that therapist adherence to AMT is similar across delivery modalities and VC is a viable service delivery strategy that does not compromise a therapist's ability to effectively structure sessions and manage patient care.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jclp.20779

  View details for Web of Science ID 000289586700009

  View details for PubMedID 21360528

• How Does Tele-Mental Health Affect Group Therapy Process? Secondary Analysis of a Noninferiority Trial JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Greene, C. J., Morland, L. A., MacDonald, A., Frueh, B. C., Grubbs, K. M., Rosen, C. S. 2010; 78 (5): 746-750

  Abstract

  Video teleconferencing (VTC) is used for mental health treatment delivery to geographically remote, underserved populations. However, few studies have examined how VTC affects individual or group psychotherapy processes. This study compares process variables such as therapeutic alliance and attrition among participants receiving anger management group therapy either through traditional face-to-face delivery or by VTC.The current study represents secondary analyses of a randomized noninferiority trial (Morland et al., in press) in which clinical effectiveness of VTC delivery proved noninferior to in-person delivery. Participants were male veterans (N = 112) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moderate to severe anger problems. The present study examined potential differences in process variables, including therapeutic alliance, satisfaction, treatment credibility, attendance, homework completion, and attrition.No significant differences were found between the two modalities on most process variables. However, individuals in the VTC condition exhibited lower alliance with the group leader than those in the in-person condition. Mean self-leader alliance scores were 4.2 (SD = 0.8) and 4.5 (SD = 0.4), respectively, where 5 represents strongly agree and 4 represents agree with positive statements about the relationship, suggesting that participants in both conditions felt reasonably strong alliance in absolute terms. Individuals who had stronger alliance tended to have better anger outcomes, yet the effect was not strong enough to result in the VTC condition producing inferior aggregate outcomes.Our findings suggest that even if group psychotherapy via VTC differs in subtle ways from in-person delivery, VTC is a viable and effective means of delivering psychotherapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1037/a0020158

  View details for Web of Science ID 000282393800015

  View details for PubMedID 20873910

• Tailoring Disaster Mental Health Services to Diverse Needs: An Analysis of 36 Crisis Counseling Projects HEALTH & SOCIAL WORK Rosen, C. S., Greene, C. J., Young, H. E., Norris, F. H. 2010; 35 (3): 211-220

  Abstract

  The federal Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) funds states' delivery of mental health services after disasters. These services are provided by social workers, other mental health professionals, and paraprofessionals from the local community. The present study examined whether CCP grant recipients that reported more tailoring of their interventions to the needs of diverse community segments achieved greater community penetration. The study reviewed archival records from 36 crisis counseling projects ending between 1996 and 2001. Numbers of clients and client ethnicity were determined through service logs. Tailoring ofservices was determined by content coding of projects' reports. Community demographics were determined from census data. Fifty-six percent of the projects reported using three or more tailoring strategies, suggesting a "precompetence" or greater stage of cultural competence. The proportion of members of racial or ethnic minority groups among program clients closely matched the proportion in grantees' communities. Projects that reported more types of tailored activities reached more clients and served more members ofminority groups. These findings confirm that adapting crisis counseling services to diverse local needs is associated with greater community penetration of mental health services.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000280745000006

  View details for PubMedID 20853648

• Telemedicine for Anger Management Therapy in a Rural Population of Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY Morland, L. A., Greene, C. J., Rosen, C. S., Foy, D., Reilly, P., Shore, J., He, Q., Frueh, B. C. 2010; 71 (7): 855-863

  Abstract

  To demonstrate the noninferiority of a telemedicine modality, videoteleconferencing, compared to traditional in-person service delivery of a group psychotherapy intervention for rural combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).A randomized controlled noninferiority trial of 125 male veterans with PTSD (according to DSM criteria on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale) and anger difficulties was conducted at 3 Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics. Participants were randomly assigned to receive anger management therapy delivered in a group setting with the therapist either in-person (n = 64) or via videoteleconferencing (n = 61). Participants were assessed at baseline, midtreatment (3 weeks), posttreatment (6 weeks), and 3 and 6 months posttreatment. The primary clinical outcome was reduction of anger difficulties, as measured by the anger expression and trait anger subscales of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) and by the Novaco Anger Scale total score (NAS-T). Data were collected from August 2005 to October 2008.Participants in both groups showed significant and clinically meaningful reductions in anger symptoms, with posttreatment and 3 and 6 months posttreatment effect sizes ranging from .12 to .63. Using a noninferiority margin of 2 points for STAXI-2 subscales anger expression and trait anger and 4 points for NAS-T outcomes, participants in the videoteleconferencing condition demonstrated a reduction in anger symptoms similar ("non-inferior") to symptom reductions in the in-person groups. Additionally, no significant between-group differences were found on process variables, including attrition, adherence, satisfaction, and treatment expectancy. Participants in the in-person condition reported significantly higher group therapy alliance.Clinical and process outcomes indicate delivering cognitive-behavioral group treatment for PTSD-related anger problems via videoteleconferencing is an effective and feasible way to increase access to evidence-based care for veterans residing in rural or remote locations.

  View details for DOI 10.4088/JCP.09m05604blu

  View details for Web of Science ID 000280470700005

  View details for PubMedID 20122374

• Aggressive and Unsafe Driving in Male Veterans Receiving Residential Treatment for PTSD JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Kuhn, E., Drescher, K., Ruzek, J., Rosen, C. 2010; 23 (3): 399-402

  Abstract

  Aggressive and unsafe driving was examined in 474 male veterans receiving Veterans Affairs residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, the authors evaluated if PTSD was associated with aggressive and unsafe driving and if Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans were at higher risk than other war veterans. Approximately two thirds of the sample reported lifetime aggressive driving and one third reported current aggressive driving. Posttraumatic stress disorder severity was associated with aggressive driving, but not other forms of unsafe driving. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans endorsed higher rates of and more frequent aggressive driving than did other veterans. After accounting for PTSD severity, age, income, and marital status being an Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran predicted aggressive driving frequency and infrequent seatbelt use.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.20536

  View details for Web of Science ID 000279419300012

  View details for PubMedID 20564373

• Using Administrative Data to Identify Mental Illness: What Approach Is Best? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL QUALITY Frayne, S. M., Miller, D. R., Sharkansky, E. J., Jackson, V. W., Wang, F., Halanych, J. H., Berlowitz, D. R., Kader, B., Rosen, C. S., Keane, T. M. 2010; 25 (1): 42-50

  Abstract

  The authors estimated the validity of algorithms for identification of mental health conditions (MHCs) in administrative data for the 133 068 diabetic patients who used Veterans Health Administration (VHA) nationally in 1998 and responded to the 1999 Large Health Survey of Veteran Enrollees. They compared various algorithms for identification of MHCs from International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) codes with self-reported depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, or schizophrenia from the survey. Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for identification of MHC varied by algorithm (0.65-0.86, 0.68-0.77, respectively). PPV was optimized by requiring > or =2 instances of MHC ICD-9 codes or by only accepting codes from mental health visits. NPV was optimized by supplementing VHA data with Medicare data. Findings inform efforts to identify MHC in quality improvement programs that assess health care disparities. When using administrative data in mental health studies, researchers should consider the nature of their research question in choosing algorithms for MHC identification.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/1062860609346347

  View details for Web of Science ID 000273214000005

  View details for PubMedID 19855046

• Subgroups of New York City Children at High Risk of PTSD After the September 11 Attacks: A Signal Detection Analysis PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Rosen, C. S., Cohen, M. 2010; 61 (1): 64-69

  Abstract

  Case finding is an important challenge in mental health programs responding to large-scale disasters. Most people who experience psychological symptoms after such events return to normal functioning within a few months. Yet a significant minority continues to experience enduring symptoms. This study demonstrated the use of signal detection analyses of community survey data to identify subgroups of children who were at highest risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the September 11 attacks.This study reanalyzed results of a needs assessment survey conducted six months after the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, with a representative sample of 7,832 New York City public school students in grades 4 to 12. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses conducted on half the sample resulted in a decision tree for classifying children into groups at varying levels of risk of PTSD. These decision rules were subsequently retested on the second half of the sample.We could reliably classify children into groups with varying probabilities of screening positive on a PTSD screen. Nearly two-thirds of children in grades 4 to 12 who screened positive for probable PTSD were concentrated among 4th graders (35%) and among children who had a friend or family member directly exposed to the attacks (28%).Signal detection analysis of community needs assessment surveys can identify community subgroups most likely to screen positive for mental health problems after a disaster or terrorist attack. This information can help target screening and outreach efforts to community segments that have the highest need for services.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000273234800012

  View details for PubMedID 20044420

• Issues in the design of a randomized noninferiority clinical trial of telemental health psychotherapy for rural combat veterans with PTSD CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS Morland, L. A., Greene, C. J., Rosen, C., Mauldin, P. D., Frueh, B. C. 2009; 30 (6): 513-522

  Abstract

  This methodological article provides a description of the design, methods, and rationale of the first prospective, noninferiority designed randomized clinical trial evaluating the clinical and cost implications of delivering an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral group intervention specifically treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with a trauma-focused intervention via video teleconferencing (VTC). PTSD is a prevalent mental health problem found among returning Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) military populations. These returning military personnel often live in rural areas and therefore have limited access to care and specialized psychological treatments. In the field of mental health, telemental health (TMH) technology has introduced a potential solution to the persistent problem of access to care in remote areas. This study is enrolling approximately 126 returning veterans with current combat-related PTSD who are receiving services through the Veteran Administration (VA) mental health care clinics on 4 Hawaiian Islands. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an empirically supported manualized treatment for PTSD, is being delivered across 9 cohorts. Participants are assigned to either the experimental VTC condition or the in-person control condition. Assessments measuring clinical, process, and cost outcomes are being conducted at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3 and 6 months post-treatment. The study employs a noninferiority design to determine if the group treatment delivered via VTC is as good as the traditional in-person modality. In addition, a cost analysis will be performed in order to compare the cost of the 2 modalities. Novel aspects of this trial and specific challenges are discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2009.06.006

  View details for Web of Science ID 000272111000003

  View details for PubMedID 19576299

• Innovations in Disaster Mental Health Services and Evaluation: National, State, and Local Responses to Hurricane Katrina (Introduction to the Special Issue) ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH Norris, F. H., Rosen, C. S. 2009; 36 (3): 159-164

  Abstract

  The severe consequences of Hurricane Katrina on mental health have sparked tremendous interest in improving the quality of mental health care for disaster victims. In this special issue, we seek to illustrate the breadth of work emerging in this area. The five empirical examples each reflect innovation, either in the nature of the services being provided or in the evaluation approach. Most importantly, they portray the variability of post-Katrina mental health programs, which ranged from national to state to local in scope and from educational to clinical in intensity. As a set, these papers address the fundamental question of whether it is useful and feasible to provide different intensities of mental health care to different populations according to presumed need. The issue concludes with recommendations for future disaster mental health service delivery and evaluation.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10488-009-0218-y

  View details for Web of Science ID 000265682500001

  View details for PubMedID 19365721

• Factors Predicting Crisis Counselor Referrals to Other Crisis Counseling, Disaster Relief, and Psychological Services: A Cross-Site Analysis of Post-Katrina Programs ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH Rosen, C. S., Matthieu, M. M., Norris, F. H. 2009; 36 (3): 186-194

  Abstract

  An important aspect of crisis counseling is linking survivors with services for their unmet needs. We examined determinants of referrals for disaster relief, additional crisis counseling, and psychological services in 703,000 crisis counseling encounters 3-18 months after Hurricane Katrina. Referrals for disaster relief were predicted by clients' losses, age (adults rather than children), and urbanicity. Referrals for additional counseling and psychological services were predicted by urbanicity, losses and trauma exposure, prior trauma, and preexisting mental health problems. Counseling and psychological referrals declined over time despite continuing mental health needs. Results confirm large urban-rural disparities in access to services.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10488-009-0216-0

  View details for Web of Science ID 000265682500004

  View details for PubMedID 19381795

• Service Characteristics and Counseling Outcomes: Lessons from a Cross-Site Evaluation of Crisis Counseling After Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH Norris, F. H., Hamblen, J. L., Rosen, C. S. 2009; 36 (3): 176-185

  Abstract

  The 2005 hurricane season was the worst on record, resulting in disaster declarations and the implementation of federally-funded crisis counseling programs in five states. As part of a larger cross-site evaluation of these programs, data from 2,850 participant surveys, 805 provider surveys, and 132,733 encounter logs (submitted from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after the participant surveys) were aggregated to the county level (N = 50) and used to test hypotheses regarding factors that influence program performance. County-level outcomes (aggregate ratings of participants' perceived benefits) improved as service intensity, service intimacy, and frequency of psychological referrals increased and as provider job stress decreased. The percent of providers with advanced degrees was indirectly related to participants' perceived benefits by increasing service intensity and referral frequency. The results yielded recommendations for achieving excellence in disaster mental health programs.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10488-009-0215-1

  View details for Web of Science ID 000265682500003

  View details for PubMedID 19365723

• Predicting Mortality in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Thirty Years After Vietnam JOURNAL OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASE Crawford, E. F., Drescher, K. D., Rosen, C. S. 2009; 197 (4): 260-265

  Abstract

  Previous research has demonstrated elevated mortality rates among Vietnam-era veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, especially deaths resulting from nonmedical causes. However, information on the relative contribution of particular risk factors to increased mortality is limited. We used receiver operating characteristics methodology to identify patient-level characteristics that predicted 7-year mortality in 79,551 middle-aged, male, posttraumatic stress disorder-diagnosed outpatients seeking mental health treatment within the Veterans Affairs Health Care System between April 1, 1998 and September 30, 1998. Receiver operating characteristics models indicated that the strongest predictor of mortality was a recent history of medical hospitalization, followed by severity of medical diagnoses and presence of a substance disorder. Results highlight the importance of addressing comorbid medical illnesses and addictive disorders when caring for this population.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/NMD.0b013e31819dbfce

  View details for Web of Science ID 000265249600007

  View details for PubMedID 19363382

• Relationships among PTSD symptoms, social support, and support source in veterans with chronic PTSD JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Laffaye, C., Cavella, S., Drescher, K., Rosen, C. 2008; 21 (4): 394-401

  Abstract

  The present study examined the temporal relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social support among 128 male veterans treated for chronic PTSD. Level of perceived interpersonal support and stressors were assessed at two time points (6 months apart) for four different potential sources of support: spouse, relatives, nonveteran friends, and veteran peers. Veteran peers provided relatively high perceived support and little interpersonal stress. Spouses were seen as both interpersonal resources and sources of interpersonal stress. More severe PTSD symptoms at Time 1 predicted greater erosion in perceived support from nonveteran friends, but not from relatives. Contrary to expectations, initial levels of perceived support and stressors did not predict the course of chronic PTSD symptoms.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.20348

  View details for Web of Science ID 000258899800005

  View details for PubMedID 18720391

• Substance abuse-related mortality among middle-aged male VA psychiatric patients PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES Rosen, C. S., Kuhn, E., Greenbaum, M. A., Drescher, K. D. 2008; 59 (3): 290-296

  Abstract

  This study evaluated mortality and causes of death over a seven-year period among middle-aged male psychiatric patients with and without co-occurring substance use disorder.This cohort study examined mortality among 169,051 male Vietnam-era veterans ages 40 to 59 treated for psychiatric disorders by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) between April and September 1998. Demographic variables, diagnoses, and prior hospitalizations were obtained from VA electronic medical records. Mortality status was obtained from VA benefits records. Cause-of-death data were purchased from the National Death Index for a random sample of 3,383 decedents. Mortality among psychiatric patients with and without diagnosed co-occurring substance use disorders was compared by logistic regression, with controls for demographic factors, psychiatric and medical diagnoses, and prior hospitalizations. Causes of death for psychiatric patients with and without co-occurring disorders were compared by chi square analyses. Results were compared to age- and race-matched norms for the U.S. population.The risk-adjusted probability of dying was 55% higher among psychiatric patients with co-occurring substance use disorders than among those without substance use disorders (OR=1.58-1.69). Overdoses and substance abuse-linked illnesses accounted for 27.6% of deaths among psychiatric patients with co-occurring substance use disorders, compared with only 8.8% of deaths among other psychiatric patients.Substance use disorders strongly contributed to premature death among male psychiatric patients. Secondary prevention is needed to reduce substance misuse and improve medical care for substance-related illnesses among psychiatric patients with co-occurring substance use disorders.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000253788400012

  View details for PubMedID 18308910

• Psychometric Characteristics of the Teen Addiction Severity Index-Two (T-ASI-2) SUBSTANCE ABUSE Brodey, B. B., McMullin, D., Kaminer, Y., Winters, K. C., Mosshart, E., Rosen, C. S., Brodey, I. S. 2008; 29 (2): 19-32

  Abstract

  The Teen Addiction Severity Index-Two (T-ASI-2) was developed as an extension of the T-ASI to assess the severity of substance abuse and related problems among adolescents (N = 371) 12-19 years of age. The T-ASI-2 consists of 18 domains that assess current use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs, as well as mental health service utilization, treatment satisfaction, school difficulties, social functioning with family members and peers, substance use by family members and peers, depression, anxiety, attention deficit, hyperactivity, defiant and risky behaviors, and readiness for change. Results show that all domains have adequate to excellent internal consistency (.54 to .88, median .80). New domains assessing psychological factors strongly correlated with gold standard assessments in the respective areas. The T-ASI-2 was designed to be a user friendly, cost-effective, viable assessment of substance use behavior and related factors.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/08897070802092942

  View details for Web of Science ID 000207708200003

  View details for PubMedID 19042321

• Does compensation status influence treatment participation and course of recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder? MILITARY MEDICINE Laffaye, C., Rosen, C. S., Schnurr, P. P., Friedman, M. J. 2007; 172 (10): 1039-1045

  Abstract

  We reviewed the empirical literature to examine how seeking compensation and/or being awarded compensation for posttraumatic stress disorder-related disability are associated with participation in mental health treatment and course of recovery. The search for relevant literature was conducted using the PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline, and PILOTS databases and yielded seven studies on veterans and five on motor vehicle accident survivors. The literature indicates that veterans who are seeking or have been awarded compensation participate in treatment at similar or higher rates than do their non-compensation-seeking counterparts. Veteran treatment outcome studies produced either null or mixed findings, with no consistent evidence that compensation-seeking predicts worse outcomes. Studies of motor vehicle accident survivors found no association between compensation status and course of recovery. Recommendations to strengthen future research in this area are provided, including using clear and consistent definitions of compensation status that differentiate compensation-seeking status from award status.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000250252000005

  View details for PubMedID 17985763

• Adolescent substance use assessment in a primary care setting AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE Brodey, B. B., McMullin, D., Winters, K. C., Rosen, C. S., Downing, D. R., Koble, J. M. 2007; 33 (3): 447-454

  Abstract

  Health initiatives suggest that adolescent substance use assessment may be beneficial as part of primary care to screen for early problematic behaviors. To examine the accuracy of such reporting, we compared the anonymous and confidential self-reports of 180 adolescents in a primary care setting. Matching samples to control for demographic variables, we found that adolescents were more likely to report marijuana use and substance use behaviors, such as selling drugs, when reporting anonymously vs. reporting confidentially. These results challenge the accuracy of confidential self-reports within this setting, and suggest further research is needed.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/00952990701315079

  View details for Web of Science ID 000246964900011

  View details for PubMedID 17613972

• "Stay connected": psychological services for retired firefighters after 11 September 2001. Prehospital and disaster medicine Alvarez, J., Rosen, C., Davis, K., Smith, G., Corrigan, M. 2007; 22 (1): 49-54

  Abstract

  A large number of firefighters retired after 11 September 2001. These retirees were confronted with multiple challenges, including grief, trauma-related physical injuries and psychological distress, difficulties related to the transition of their roles, and deterioration of social support.The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Counseling Service Unit's "Stay Connected" Program designed and implemented after 11 September 2001 is described in this report. This unique program was designed to use a combination of peer outreach and professional counseling to address the mental health needs of retiring firefighters and their families.Descriptive information about the intervention program was gathered through semi-structured interviews with Counseling Service Unit staff. Client satisfaction surveys were collected during three six-week periods.Quantitative data indicate that clients rated their overall satisfaction with the clerical and counseling staff a perfect 4 out of 4. The report of their overall satisfaction with the services also was nearly at ceiling (3.99 out 4). The perceived helpfulness of the services in resolving the problems experienced by the clients increased significantly over time. Qualitative data indicate that peer involvement and intensive community outreach, i.e., social events, wellness activities, and classes, were integral to the success of the intervention.This project provided valuable lessons about how to develop and implement a "culturally competent"intervention program for public safety workers retiring after a disaster. Creative, proactive, non-traditional outreach efforts and leveraging peers for credibility and support were particularly important.

  View details for PubMedID 17484363

• Coping, symptoms, and functioning outcomes of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Tiet, Q. Q., Rosen, C., Cavella, S., Moos, R. H., Finney, J. W., Yesavage, J. 2006; 19 (6): 799-811

  Abstract

  This study examines the association between approach coping and better functioning outcomes and the reciprocal relationships between coping and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in patients diagnosed with PTSD. Posttraumatic stress disorder patients receiving services in five VA health care systems were randomly selected and surveyed at baseline and followed 10 months later. Analyses of longitudinal data using structural equation modeling techniques showed that more approach coping predicted better family and social functioning. Cognitive avoidance coping predicted more PTSD symptoms, and more PTSD symptoms predicted more approach coping and more behavioral avoidance coping. Approach coping may enable patients with chronic PTSD to establish and maintain better relationships with family and friends, despite continuing PTSD.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.20185

  View details for Web of Science ID 000243184200005

  View details for PubMedID 17195979

• Telephone monitoring and support for veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: A pilot study COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL Rosen, C. S., DiLandro, C., Corwin, K. N., Drescher, K. D., Cooney, J. H., Gusman, F. 2006; 42 (5): 501-508

  Abstract

  Dropout from outpatient mental health treatment may contribute to high rates of relapse and rehospitalization among veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In a quasi-experimental cohort study, 87 male and 17 female veterans discharging from residential PTSD treatment received either standard referral to outpatient care (N = 77) or standard referrals supplemented by biweekly telephone calls (N = 27). Telephone monitoring and support was feasible and acceptable to 85% of clients. Compared to prior patient cohorts, clients receiving telephone support were twice as likely (88% vs. 43%) to complete an outpatient visit within 1 month of discharge and reported higher satisfaction with care.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10597-006-9047-6

  View details for Web of Science ID 000241716700006

  View details for PubMedID 16897414

• Disparities in diabetes care - Impact of mental illness ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE Frayne, S. M., Halanych, J. H., Miller, D. R., Wang, F., Lin, H., Pogach, L., Sharkansky, E. J., Keane, T. M., Skinner, K. M., Rosen, C. S., Berlowitz, D. R. 2005; 165 (22): 2631-2638

  Abstract

  Emerging evidence indicates that patients with mental health conditions (MHCs) may receive less intensive medical care. Diabetes serves as a useful condition in which to test for MHC-related disparities in care. We examined whether quality measures for diabetes care are worse for patients with or without MHCs.This national, cross-sectional study included 313 586 noninstitutionalized Veterans Health Administration patients with diabetes (identified from diagnostic codes and prescriptions) whose Veterans Health Administration facility transmitted laboratory data to a central database; 76 799 (25%) had MHCs (based on diagnostic codes for depressed mood, anxiety, psychosis, manic symptoms, substance use disorders, personality disorders, and other categories). National data from Veterans Health Administration records, Medicare claims, and a national survey were linked to characterize 1999 diabetes care.Failure to meet diabetes performance measures was more common in patients with MHCs: unadjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.24 (1.22-1.27) for no hemoglobin A(1c) testing, 1.25 (1.23-1.28) for no low-density lipoprotein cholesterol testing, 1.05 (1.03-1.07) for no eye examination, 1.32 (1.30-1.35) for poor glycemic control, and 1.17 (1.15-1.20) for poor lipemic control. Disparities persisted after case mix adjustment and were more pronounced with specific MHCs (psychotic, manic, substance use, and personality disorders). The percentage not meeting diabetes care standards increased with increasing number of MHCs.Patients with mental illness merit special attention in national diabetes quality improvement efforts.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000233883800015

  View details for PubMedID 16344421

• Chronic PTSD patients' functioning before and after the September 11 attacks JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Rosen, C., Tiet, Q., Cavella, S., Finney, J., Lee, T. 2005; 18 (6): 781-784

  Abstract

  This study examined how treatment-seeking veterans with preexisting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n = 178) were affected by vicarious exposure to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Participants were surveyed 0 to 5 months prior to 9/11 and resurveyed 6 months after the attacks. Half the patients reported that thoughts and feelings about 9/11 impaired their functioning some (37%) or most or all of the time (13%). However, there was little evidence that vicarious exposure to 9/11 altered the course of these patients' functioning. Mean symptom, substance use, and role functioning outcomes were unchanged from pre-9/11 levels. Time spent following media coverage of 9/11 events was weakly associated (r = .17 to .18, p < .05) with only two of eight functioning outcomes.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.20086

  View details for Web of Science ID 000234532900020

  View details for PubMedID 16382441

• Reliability and acceptability of automated telephone surveys among Spanish- and English-speaking mental health services recipients. Mental health services research Brodey, B. B., Rosen, C. S., Brodey, I. S., Sheetz, B., Unutzer, J. 2005; 7 (3): 181-184

  Abstract

  Interactive Voice Response (IVR), an automated system that administers surveys over the phone, is a potentially important technology for mental health services research. Although a number of studies have compared IVR to live interviews, few have looked at IVR in comparison to pencil-and-paper survey administration. Further, few studies have included subjects from those populations most likely to benefit from IVR technology, namely patients with lower education levels and non-English-speaking patients. This randomized clinical study, conducted at a community health center serving low-income English- and Spanish-speaking populations, assessed the reliability of an IVR-administered Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) relative to a paper-and-pencil version. The study was adequately powered. Results showed that patients gave similar responses to the IVR and paper-and-pencil surveys; in addition, patients were generally equally satisfied with both experiences. We conclude that, while more large-scale research is needed, IVR can be a useful survey administration tool.

  View details for PubMedID 16194003

• Predicting high-risk behaviors in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder JOURNAL OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASE Hartl, T. L., Rosen, C., Drescher, K., Lee, T. T., Gusman, F. 2005; 193 (7): 464-472

  Abstract

  The present study sought to identify posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients at high risk for negative behavioral outcomes (violence, suicide attempts, and substance use). The Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD, the Beck Depression Inventory, and demographic and behavioral data from 409 male combat veterans who completed a VA residential rehabilitation program for PTSD were analyzed using signal detection methods (receiver operating characteristics). A validation sample (N = 221) was then used to test interactions identified in the signal detection analyses. The best predictors of behaviors at follow-up were those same behaviors shortly before intake, followed by depressive and PTSD symptoms. However, for each of the models other than that for hard drug use, cutoffs determined at the symptom level did not lend themselves to replication. Recent high-risk behaviors, rather than patients' history, appear to be more predictive of high-risk behaviors postdischarge.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/01.nmd.0000168238.13252.b3

  View details for Web of Science ID 000230408100006

  View details for PubMedID 15985841

• A survey of PTSD screening and referral practices in VA addiction treatment programs JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT Young, H. E., Rosen, C. S., Finney, J. W. 2005; 28 (4): 313-319

  Abstract

  Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) demonstrate worse outcomes following treatment for SUDs than do veterans with SUDs only, and so PTSD treatment may enhance SUD outcomes for patients. A survey of current practice patterns in VA SUD treatment programs was undertaken to determine their concurrence with emerging practice guidelines for the assessment and treatment of SUD-PTSD comorbidity. Clinicians in outpatient SUD clinics and/or inpatient SUD programs were surveyed in six VA medical centers in 1999 and 2001 (respondents n = 57 and n = 39, respectively). Although one half to two thirds of clinicians working with SUD patients routinely screen for trauma exposure and PTSD, few assessments are systematically conducted using validated measures. Routine referrals to PTSD specialty and dual-diagnosis programs and to veterans' centers are made by between 35% and 60% of providers across inpatient and outpatient settings. Implications for improvement of clinical outcomes are discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsat.2005.02.006

  View details for Web of Science ID 000230061500003

  View details for PubMedID 15925265

• Conversion and validation of the teen-addiction severity index (T-ASI) for Internet and automated-telephone self-report administration PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS Brodey, B. B., Rosen, C. S., Winters, K. C., Brodey, I. S., Sheetz, B. M., Steinfeld, R. R., Kaminer, Y. 2005; 19 (1): 54-61

  Abstract

  This study converted the Teen-Addiction Severity Index (T-ASI) into self-report formats using Internet (Net) and interactive voice response (IVR) automated-telephone technologies. Reliability and convergent validity were assessed among 95 inpatient adolescent participants. Current functioning scores obtained by clinician interview correlated well with self-report Net (mean r=.74, SD=.14) and IVR (mean r=.72, SD=.16). Lifetime history items obtained by clinicians were consistent with self-report Net (mean r=.60, SD=.32; mean kappa=.67, SD=.24) and IVR formats (mean r=.60, SD=.30; mean kappa=.64, SD=.26). Participants rated "ease of use" as being high for both Net and IVR formats. These findings suggest that automated T-ASI administration is a valid and potentially less expensive alternative to clinician-administered T-ASI interviews.

  View details for DOI 10.1037/0893-164X.19.1.54

  View details for Web of Science ID 000227729600007

  View details for PubMedID 15783278

• Validation of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) for internet and automated telephone self-report administration JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT Brodey, B. B., Rosen, C. S., Brodey, I. S., Sheetz, B. M., Steinfeld, R. R., Gastfriend, D. R. 2004; 26 (4): 253-259

  Abstract

  This study assesses the convergent validity of Internet (Net) and interactive voice response (IVR) automated telephone self-report versions of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) relative to the established, clinician-administered (CA) ASI. Eighty-eight subjects were recruited from an addiction treatment program to complete three ASI assessments. The mean correlation between composite scores obtained by Net and IVR and those obtained via clinician interview was.91 (range.81-.95). For History items, the mean correlation was.77 (range.14-1.00) and the mean kappa coefficient was.75 (range.46-1.00). The results demonstrated the validity of these self-report Net and IVR versions of the ASI. Self-report Net and IVR were rated as "very satisfactory" or "extremely satisfactory" by a majority of respondents for ease of use. Automation can reduce the labor costs associated with ASI administration and may facilitate longitudinal tracking of subjects from home.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsat.2004.01.005

  View details for Web of Science ID 000222018400002

  View details for PubMedID 15182889

• VA practice patterns and practice guidelines for treating posttraumatic stress disorder JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Rosen, C. S., Chow, H. C., Finney, J. F., Greenbaum, M. A., Moos, R. H., Sheikh, J. I., Yesavage, J. A. 2004; 17 (3): 213-222

  Abstract

  Little is known about how recent ISTSS practice guidelines (E. B. Foa, T. M. Keane, & M. J. Friedman, 2000) compare with prevailing PTSD treatment practices for veterans. Prior to guideline dissemination, clinicians in 6 VA medical centers were surveyed in 1999 (n = 321) and in 2001 (n = 271) regarding their use of various assessment and treatment procedures. Practices most consistent with guideline recommendations included psychoeducation, coping skills training, attention to trust issues, depression and substance use screening, and prescribing of SSRIs, anticonvulsants, and trazodone. PTSD and trauma assessment, anger management, and sleep hygiene practices were provided less consistently. Exposure therapy was rarely used. Additional research is needed on training, clinical resources, and organizational factors that may influence VA implementation of guideline recommendations.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000221686900004

  View details for PubMedID 15253093

• Causes of death among male veterans who received residential treatment for PTSD JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Drescher, K. D., Rosen, C. S., Burling, T. A., Foy, D. W. 2003; 16 (6): 535-543

  Abstract

  Previous studies have shown elevated mortality among psychiatric and substance abusing patients, including veterans with PTSD. Although early studies showed elevated deaths from external causes among Vietnam veterans in the early postwar years, more recent studies have also shown increased health problems among veterans with PTSD. This study compared mortality due to behavioral causes versus other diseases among 1,866 male veterans treated for PTSD. Death certificates obtained for 110 veterans indicated behavioral causes accounted for 62.4% of deaths, standardized mortality ratio = 3.4-5.5, including accidents (29.4%), chronic substance abuse (14.7%), and intentional death by suicide, homicide, or police (13.8%). Results suggest possible opportunities to improve outcomes of this at-risk patient population through harm reduction interventions and improved continuity of care.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000186638900001

  View details for PubMedID 14690350

• Physical and sexual abuse history and addiction treatment outcomes JOURNAL OF STUDIES ON ALCOHOL Rosen, C. S., Ouimette, P. C., Sheikh, J. I., Gregg, J. A., Moos, R. H. 2002; 63 (6): 683-687

  Abstract

  Prior research on patients with substance use disorders has shown that lifetime physical or sexual abuse is associated with more impaired functioning at treatment intake. The present study sought to determine whether physical or sexual abuse also predicted treatment response (posttreatment outcomes) of individuals with substance use disorders.Male (n = 19,989) and female (n = 622) veterans with substance use disorders were assessed with the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) early in treatment and reassessed an average of 12 months later. Treatment outcomes were compared for patients who did and did not report prior physical or sexual abuse in the initial ASI interview.Lifetime physical or sexual abuse predicted worse outcomes in six of seven domains of functioning, after controlling for baseline functioning, psychiatric diagnoses and demographic variables. Although women were more likely than men to report being abused, the effect of abuse on treatment outcomes was similar for both genders. Psychiatric problems at baseline mediated the effect of abuse history on outcomes. Abuse history moderated the effect of treatment intensity (contacts per month) on outcomes: More frequent treatment contacts were more beneficial for abused patients than for nonabused patients.Individuals with substance use disorders who have a history of physical or sexual abuse may have higher risk for problematic treatment outcomes as a result of greater psychiatric problems, deficits in social support and possible difficulties in establishing treatment alliance. Clinicians may consider increasing the duration and intensity of treatment to temper the negative effects of abuse on later functioning.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000180155700006

  View details for PubMedID 12529068

• How well are clinicians following dementia practice guidelines? ALZHEIMER DISEASE & ASSOCIATED DISORDERS Rosen, C. S., Chow, H. C., Greenbaum, M. A., Finney, J. F., Moos, R. H., Sheikh, J. I., Yesavage, J. A. 2002; 16 (1): 15-23

  Abstract

  Although there are numerous clinical guidelines regarding the management of dementia, there have been few studies on their implementation in practice. Clinicians in six United States Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers (n = 200, 85% response rate) were surveyed regarding their use of practices recommended in the California Workgroup Guidelines for Alzheimer's Disease Management. The majority of providers (89% to 73%) reported that they routinely conducted neurological examinations, obtained histories from caregivers, discussed the diagnosis with the patient's family, discussed durable power of attorney, and made legally-required reports of drivers with dementia. Roughly two-thirds of providers said they routinely conducted cognitive screening examinations, screened for depression, reported elder abuse, and discussed care needs and decision-making issues with patients' families. Only half of all outpatient providers implemented caregiver support practices for at least half of their patients. Clinicians' choices of medications for cognition, mood, and behavior problems were broadly consistent with current practice guidelines. These results suggest possible priorities for quality improvement efforts. Further research is needed to clarify reasons for particular gaps between guidelines and practice and to identify specific targets for intervention.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000174273000003

  View details for PubMedID 11882745

• Posttraumatic stress disorder patients' readiness to change alcohol and anger problems PSYCHOTHERAPY Rosen, C. S., Murphy, R. T., Chow, H. C., Drescher, K. D., Ramirez, G., Ruddy, R., Gusman, F. 2001; 38 (2): 233-244

  View details for Web of Science ID 000171842000011

• PTSD patients? readiness to change alcohol and anger problems. Psychotherapy Rosen, C. S., Murphy, R. T., Chow, H. C., Drescher, K. D., Ramirez, G., Ruddy, R., & Gusman, F. 2001; 38: 233-244
• Is the sequencing of change processes by stage consistent across health problems? A meta-analysis HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Rosen, C. S. 2000; 19 (6): 593-604

  Abstract

  Clinicians and researchers applying the transtheoretical model (J.O. Prochaska, C.C. DiClemente, & J.C. Norcross, 1992) to health promotion often assume that relationships of processes and stages observed in smoking cessation can be generalized to other problems. A reanalysis of 47 cross-sectional studies determined that use of change processes varies by stage, but the sequencing of processes is not consistent across health problems. In smoking cessation, cognitive processes were used in earlier stages than were behavioral processes. In exercise adoption and diet change, use of behavioral and cognitive processes increased together. Results for substance abuse and psychotherapy were less consistent. Substituting new behaviors, making a commitment, considering consequences, seeking information, controlling cues, and using rewards varied most by stage. Future longitudinal studies should assess these processes as potential mediators of lifestyle change.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000165751100012

  View details for PubMedID 11129363

• Six- and ten-item indexs of psychological distress based on the Symptom Checklist-90 ASSESSMENT Rosen, C. S., Drescher, K. D., Moos, R. H., Finney, J. W., Murphy, R. T., Gusman, F. 2000; 7 (2): 103-111

  Abstract

  Clinicians, provider organizations, and researchers need simple and valid measures to monitor mental health treatment outcomes. This article describes development of 6- and 10-item indexes of psychological distress based on the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). A review of eight factor-analytic studies identified SCL-90 items most indicative of overall distress. Convergent validity of two new indexes and the previously developed SCL-10 were compared in an archival sample of posttraumatic stress disorder patients (n = 323). One index, the SCL-6, was further validated with archival data on substance abuse patients (n = 3,014 and n = 316) and hospital staff (n = 542). The three brief indexes had similar convergent validity, correlating .87 to .97 with the SCL-90 and Brief Symptom Inventory, .49 to .76 with other symptom scales, and .46 to .73 with changes in other symptom measures over time. These results indicate the concise, easily administered indexes are valid indicators of psychological distress.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000174445200001

  View details for PubMedID 10868247

• Integrating stage and continuum models to explain processing of exercise messages and exercise initiation among sedentary college students HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Rosen, C. S. 2000; 19 (2): 172-180

  Abstract

  Concepts from the transtheoretical model (J.O. Prochaska, C.C. DiClemente, & J.C. Norcross, 1992), theory of planned behavior (I. Ajzen, 1985), and the elaboration likelihood model (R.E. Petty & J.T. Cacioppo, 1986b) were used to examine how exercise readiness impacted processing of exercise messages and exercise initiation. Sedentary college students (n = 147) were assessed for exercise attitude, intent, behavior, and stage of change. Students also listed their thoughts after reading messages with either strong or weak arguments for exercise. Attitude predicted depth of message processing, but stage of change did not. Stage of change and intent at baseline predicted exercise adoption at 1- to 3-month follow-up (n = 134), with baseline activity moderating the effect of intent. Tailoring messages to recipients' depth of processing and interactive effects of intent and behavior on exercise adoption should be considered in future research.

  View details for DOI 10.1037//0278-6133.19.2.172

  View details for Web of Science ID 000087490300008

  View details for PubMedID 10762101

• Consistency of self-administered and interview-based Addiction Severity Index composite scores ADDICTION Rosen, C. S., Henson, B. R., Finney, J. W., Moos, R. H. 2000; 95 (3): 419-425

  Abstract

  This study assesses the viability of a self-administered version of the Addiction Severity Index for monitoring substance abuse patients' functioning.Patients completed the ASI interview and a self-administered questionnaire containing ASI composite items an average of 4 days apart. Composite scores from both formats were compared using correlations and mean differences.Participants were 316 veterans entering substance abuse treatment in a US Department of Veterans Affairs medical center.Composite scores for alcohol, drug, psychiatric, family, legal and employment problems correlated 0.59-0.87 across formats. Patients endorsed more drug use and psychiatric symptoms by questionnaire than by interview. Medical composite scores correlated only 0.47 across formats.This study and previous research suggest that a self-administered questionnaire can be a feasible alternative to ASI interviews for monitoring substance abuse patients' treatment outcomes.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000086059900016

  View details for PubMedID 10795362

• Preschoolers' pretend play and theory of mind: The role of jointly constructed pretence BRITISH JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Schwebel, D. C., Rosen, C. S., SINGER, J. L. 1999; 17: 333-348

  View details for Web of Science ID 000082615400002

• Preschoolers' attributions of mental states in pretense CHILD DEVELOPMENT Rosen, C. S., Schwebel, D. C., SINGER, J. L. 1997; 68 (6): 1133-1142

  Abstract

  When young children appear to recognize that someone else is engaging in make-believe play, do they infer what the pretender is thinking? Are they aware that the pretender is thinking about a pretend scenario yet knows what the real situation is? Preschoolers ages 3-5 (N = 45) viewed scenes from the Barney & Friends television series depicting either make-believe or realistic actions. Children were questioned concerning the presence of pretense and the thoughts and beliefs of the TV characters. The children were also presented with false belief and appearance/reality theory of mind tasks. Children who identified when TV characters were engaging in pretend play did not necessarily infer the pretenders' thoughts and beliefs. Inferring pretenders' thoughts was related to performance on false belief and appearance/reality tasks, but simply recognizing pretense was not. These data support the view that children initially learn to recognize pretense from contextual cues and are able to infer pretenders' beliefs only with further development of metarepresentational ability.

  View details for Web of Science ID A1997YL12000015

  View details for PubMedID 9418229