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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Mar;257(3):390-9.
doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e31826bc313.

A randomized stepped care intervention trial targeting posttraumatic stress disorder for surgically hospitalized injury survivors

Douglas Zatzick  1 , Gregory Jurkovich, Frederick P Rivara, Joan Russo, Amy Wagner, Jin Wang, Chris Dunn, Sarah Peregrine Lord, Megan Petrie, Stephen S Oʼconnor, Wayne Katon
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized stepped care intervention trial targeting posttraumatic stress disorder for surgically hospitalized injury survivors

Douglas Zatzick et al. Ann Surg. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To test the effectiveness of a stepped care intervention model targeting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after injury.

Background: Few investigations have evaluated interventions for injured patients with PTSD and related impairments that can be feasibly implemented in trauma surgical settings.

Methods: The investigation was a pragmatic effectiveness trial in which 207 acutely injured hospitalized trauma survivors were screened for high PTSD symptom levels and then randomized to a stepped combined care management, psychopharmacology, and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy intervention (n = 104) or usual care control (n = 103) conditions. The symptoms of PTSD and functional limitations were reassessed at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the index injury admission.

Results: Regression analyses demonstrated that over the course of the year after injury, intervention patients had significantly reduced PTSD symptoms when compared with controls [group by time effect, CAPS (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale): F(2, 185) = 5.50, P < 0.01; PCL-C (PTSD Checklist Civilian Version): F(4, 185) = 5.45, P < 0.001]. Clinically and statistically significant PTSD treatment effects were observed at the 6-, 9-, and 12-month postinjury assessments. Over the course of the year after injury, intervention patients also demonstrated significant improvements in physical function [MOS SF-36 PCS (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Physical Component Summary) main effect: F(1, 172) = 9.87, P < 0.01].

Conclusions: Stepped care interventions can reduce PTSD symptoms and improve functioning over the course of the year after surgical injury hospitalization. Orchestrated investigative and policy efforts could systematically introduce and evaluate screening and intervention procedures for PTSD at US trauma centers. (

Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00270959).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient Flow Through the Trial
Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient Flow Through the Trial
Figure 2
Figure 2
PTSD Symptom Severity by Treatment Group on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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    1. Zatzick D, Rivara FP, Nathens AB, et al. A nationwide US study of post-traumatic stress after hospitalization for physical injury. Psychol Med. 2007;37(10):1469–1480. - PubMed

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