A preliminary study of an internet-based intervention for OEF/OIF veterans presenting for VA specialty PTSD care

J Trauma Stress. 2015 Apr;28(2):153-6. doi: 10.1002/jts.21994.

Abstract

This preliminary study sought to evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral, web-based intervention for posttraumatic stress in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans who are not able to participate, or not eligible to participate, in evidence-based posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments. The study used an uncontrolled pre-posttest design with a sample of 24 OEF/OIF veterans presenting to a VA PTSD specialty clinic. Participants used the afterdeployment.org, Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) Workshop, which was supplemented with brief weekly telephone calls. Half of the participants (n = 12) completed at least 5 of the 8 workshop sessions. At posttreatment, 40.0% of completers demonstrated reliable reductions on PTSD symptoms and overall d = 1.04. Treatment satisfaction and acceptability was generally positive based on Likert ratings. This web-based intervention for PTS appears to be a feasible and potentially helpful intervention for veterans who may not otherwise receive psychosocial interventions. Given the minimal resources required and the potential reach, this web-based intervention could be a viable addition to services provided to OEF/OIF veterans seeking PTSD specialty care. Efforts to further develop and more rigorously evaluate this approach are warranted.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Afghan Campaign 2001-
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Self Care
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*
  • Telephone
  • United States
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Veterans / psychology*
  • Young Adult