Program Evaluation of an Integrated Treatment Approach to Group CPT in VA Residential Treatment

Historically, U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) residential programs offered treatment for particular diagnoses in separate programs. Although increasing emphasis is being placed on integrated treatment, little research has examined varying models of providing effective residential PTSD treatment. The current evaluation assessed potential differences in the effectiveness of group Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) under two different program models. The first offered CPT as part of a formal PTSD residential treatment program only. The second model offered CPT as a component of care regardless of an individual's core treatment program (e.g., substance abuse, general mental health). Patients included 247 Veterans enrolled in residential group CPT at a large Midwest VA (93.1% male, 67.6% Caucasian, average age 43.96). Comparisons showed that veterans in all models showed significant PTSD symptom improvement, with no significant differences between those enrolled in different treatment models. Our results indicated that there was no detriment to opening CPT groups to those outside the PTSD residential program, even when Veterans had comorbidities to their trauma diagnosis. Length of stay in residential treatment was also significantly reduced for Veterans in the more integrated model. Our results support the move toward treatment integration.