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. 2018 Mar;10(2):131-139.
doi: 10.1037/tra0000220. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

VA residential treatment providers' use of two evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD: Global endorsement versus specific components

Richard Thompson  1 , Vanessa Simiola  2 , Paula P Schnurr  3 , Shannon Wiltsey Stirman  3 , Joan M Cook  2
Affiliations

VA residential treatment providers' use of two evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD: Global endorsement versus specific components

Richard Thompson et al. Psychol Trauma. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: Despite a growing body of knowledge about the dissemination of evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs), their actual use in clinical settings is not well understood. The purpose of the current study was to compare self-reported component use with global use for 2 EBPs for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), prolonged exposure (PE), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT).

Method: Around 174 providers from 38 VA PTSD residential treatment programs were asked about both global use and component use of PE and CPT.

Results: Among frequent users of these EBPs, component use was generally high, especially for low-intensity and nonspecific components. For each form of treatment, there were a small number of providers who reported using the treatment frequently but did not use most of the key components of the treatment.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of understanding the modifications that providers make to EBPs and suggest the importance of flexibility within fidelity to these treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record

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