Evaluation of an Integrative PTSD Treatment Program: Who Benefits the Most?

• Activity Number: 549
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 7, 2013 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics in Defense and National Security
• Author(s): Weimin Zhang*+ and Salvatore Libretto and Sandi Gordon
• Companies: Samueli Institute and Samueli Institute and Samueli Institute
• Keywords: structural equation modeling ; linear and nonlinear regression ; path models ; latent class analysis ; PTSD ; resilience

Abstract

A mixed-methods program evaluation was conducted on a rehabilitation program which is designed for reducing core symptoms of combat stress and PTSD. The retrospective outcomes evaluation was conducted on 65 cohorts of 632 total soldiers who attended the 3-week training program from 2008 to 2012. This presentation will address whether the program has an impact on combat stress related health outcomes including resilience, post-traumatic stress symptoms, general health status/quality of life, and other outcomes assessed by the program. In this set of analyses we try to explore relevant questions such as: Does the treatment program have an effect on service members' health outcomes? Do the subjects' retention plan, military experience, attitudes, and belief in behavioral health at pre-treatment work with the program to have impact on the subject's combat stress related health outcomes? We found evidence that health outcomes were significantly improved from pre- to post-treatment. Data were explored and tested using structural equation modeling latent class analysis methods, linear and nonlinear regression path models.