Cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder delivered to rural veterans via telemental health: a randomized noninferiority clinical trial.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

OBJECTIVE: 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). METHOD: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00879255.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Morland, LA; Mackintosh, M-A; Greene, CJ; Rosen, CS; Chard, KM; Resick, P; Frueh, BC

Published Date

  • May 2014

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 75 / 5

Start / End Page

  • 470 - 476

PubMed ID

  • 24922484

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1555-2101

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.4088/JCP.13m08842

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States