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Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The unified protocol (UP) is a promising transdisgnostic treatment for emotional disorders; limited data exists with trauma‐exposed populations. This study compared effectiveness of the UP, presented centered therapy (PCT), and treatment as usual (TAU) in trauma‐exposed veterans presenting to routine care. Method: Trauma‐exposed veterans with one or more emotional disorder diagnoses participated in a pilot hybrid‐1 effectiveness/preimplementation study. Thirty‐seven male and female veterans were randomized to one of three conditions. Results: Multilevel growth curve modeling demonstrated improvement over time across conditions with large effect sizes (range: −2.15 to −3.32), with the UP demonstrating the greatest change. The between group effect sizes for reductions in number of comorbid diagnoses were medium to small and statistically significant (TAU and UP, d = 0.49, p =.056; TAU and PCT d = 0.18, p =.166, UP and PCT d = 0.31, p =.229). Only the UP led to a decrease in the number of comorbid diagnoses (d = −0.71). Psychosocial functioning varied by group, with slight increases in impairment in PCT and TAU, and medium effect size reduction in the UP. Only the UP exhibited significant decreases in self‐reported anxiety and depression. Between group differences for UP and PCT were medium to large and statistically significant for depression across two measures (d = −0.72 to d = −1.40). Conclusions: This represents the first trial examining effectiveness of the UP, PCT, and TAU in trauma‐exposed veterans. Despite a small sample, large effect size differences demonstrated promising advantages for the UP. Trial Registration Number: NCT02944994. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To systematically review outcomes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mind–body treatments for PTSD. Methods: Inclusion criteria based on guidelines for assessing risk of bias were used to evaluate articles identified through electronic literature searches. Results: Twenty‐two RCTs met inclusion standards. In most of the nine mindfulness and six yoga studies, significant between‐group effects were found indicating moderate to large effect size advantages for these treatments. In all seven relaxation RCT's, relaxation was used as a control condition and five studies reported significant between‐group differences on relevant PTSD outcomes in favor of the target treatments. However, there were large within‐group symptom improvements in the relaxation condition for the majority of studies. Conclusions: Although many studies are limited by methodologic weaknesses, recent studies have increased rigor and, in aggregate, the results for mindfulness, yoga, and relaxation are promising. Recommendations for design of future mind–body trials are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review assessed the concordance of the literature on recovery with the definition and components of recovery developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Each SAMHSA identified recovery component was first explicated with synonyms and keywords and made mutually exclusive by authors. Inter-rater reliability was established on the coding of the presence of 17 recovery components and dimensions in 67 literature reviews on the recovery concept in mental health. The review indicated that concordance varied across SAMHSA components. The components of recovery with greatest concordance were: individualized/person centered, empowerment, purpose, and hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine feasibility, qualitative feedback and satisfaction associated with a 4-session introduction to Tai Chi for veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Design: We observed and reported recruitment and retention rates, participant characteristics, adherence, and satisfaction across 2 cohorts. We also examined qualitative feedback provided by questionnaires, focus groups and individual interviews. Main outcome measures: Rates of recruitment and retention, focus group and individual feedback interviews, self-reported satisfaction. Participants: 17 veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Results: Almost 90% (17/19) of those eligible following the telephone screen enrolled in the programme. Three-quarters (76.4%) of the participants attended at least 3 of the 4 Tai Chi sessions. Qualitative data analysis revealed themes indicating favourable impressions of the Tai Chi sessions. In addition, participants reported feeling very engaged during the sessions, and found Tai Chi to be helpful for managing distressing symptoms (ie, intrusive thoughts, concentration difficulties, physiological arousal). Participants also reported high satisfaction: 93.8% endorsed being very or mostly satisfied with the programme. All participants (100%) indicated that they would like to participate in future Tai Chi programmes and would recommend it to a friend. Conclusions: Tai Chi appears to be feasible and safe for veterans with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is perceived to be beneficial and is associated with high rates of satisfaction. This study highlights the need for future investigation of Tai Chi as a novel intervention to address symptoms of PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Traumatic Stress is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recruiting sufficient numbers of participants for physical activity trials for individuals with diabetes can be difficult because there are often many behavioral demands for participants, and inclusion and exclusion criteria can be extensive. This study examined the recruitment strategies used for a randomized, controlled trial designed to investigate the efficacy of an automated telephone intervention to promote physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes in an urban Veterans Administration health care system. Traditional recruitment approaches of posting flyers and obtaining referrals from clinicians did not yield sufficient numbers of interested patients. Using the electronic medical record system to identify patients with uncontrolled diabetes allowed staff to send targeted mailings to participants, and 77% of participants were recruited using this method. The targeted mailing approach elicited a positive response rate of 12% (328 of 2,764 potential participants identified) and appeared to produce a more representative and appropriate sample than other recruitment methods used. Lessons learned in this study may be helpful to researchers in future trials who attempt to recruit participants with diabetes for physical activity protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study explored possible mechanisms through which symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were reduced in a randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of a yoga intervention with an assessment control. Method We examined whether changes in psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and emotion regulation strategies (expressive suppression and reappraisal) were associated with posttreatment PTSD symptoms for 38 women with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition full or subthreshold PTSD. Results Hierarchical linear regression models revealed that expressive suppression significantly decreased for the yoga group relative to the assessment control. Psychological flexibility increased significantly for the control but not yoga group. However, increases in psychological flexibility were associated with decreases in PTSD symptoms for the yoga but not control group. Conclusion Preliminary findings suggest that yoga may reduce expressive suppression and may improve PTSD symptoms by increasing psychological flexibility. More research is needed to replicate and extend these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Traumatic Stress is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The goal of this pilot study was to examine changes in self-reported levels of mindfulness in the context of an 8-week mindfulness telehealth intervention for military veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants were 24 male veterans with PTSD aged 23 to 66 (M = 55.2). Participants were randomized to either a mindfulness telehealth intervention or a PTSD psychoeducation telehealth condition. Both interventions consisted of two in-person sessions and six telephone sessions. Measures were collected pre- and posttreatment and at 6-week follow-up and included the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), and the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Conditions by time interaction effects were found in the expected direction for the MAAS, WBSI, FFMQ Observing, and FFMQ Describing facets, indicating gains in skills for the mindfulness group over the course of the study. Results also suggest that a brief telehealth intervention introducing mindfulness skills may be effective in increasing levels of mindfulness as measured by these instruments. Limitations include a small sample size and lack of intent-to-treat analyses. The present study represents one of the few published studies to use multiple measures of mindfulness to examine changes in mindfulness skills and the first known published study to examine changes in mindfulness following a brief telehealth intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The goal of this study was to explore sleep quality as a potential mediator between depression symptoms and diabetes quality of life (DQOL), and anxiety symptoms and DQOL. Method Participants were 83 male and 3 female veterans with type 2 diabetes ( Mage = 62.4). Self-report measures were completed during the baseline assessment of a larger intervention study conducted at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Results Depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality were all associated with DQOL. Additionally, sleep quality had a partial indirect effect on the relationships between depression symptoms and DQOL, and between anxiety symptoms and DQOL. Conclusions These findings suggest that sleep quality may have an important role in the way that psychological distress affects diabetes quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise is considered a crucial component of disease management for individuals with type 2 diabetes, and it is associated with extensive health and mental health benefits. Although the benefits of exercise are well established, most people with diabetes do not engage in physical activity in a regular and sustained manner. To address this, it is important to develop interventions that are easily and broadly accessible and that address specific barriers that prevent individuals with diabetes from participating in physical activity. Several investigations have examined the efficacy of using various forms of technology to deliver or enhance interventions designed to promote regular physical activity. The outcomes have been promising, providing support for continued exploration of telehealth interventions that promote physical activity in the diabetic population. This article provides an overview of telephone, Internet-based, and home-based monitoring interventions that promote physical activity, with a focus on those with diabetes. It also discusses the potential advantages of using telehealth interventions in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The psychometric properties of the PTSD Checklist (PCL) were investigated in a sample of treatment-seeking and community-dwelling male veterans. In conjunction with previous reports, results from the present study indicate that the PCL possesses strong, robust psychometric properties. The current investigation suggests a cutoff score of 60-higher than previous investigations-related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis derived from the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. This research supports the use of the PCL as a brief self-report measure of PTSD symptomatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has revealed heightened aggressive behavior among veterans with PTSD. This study tested a model examining the interrelationships among combat exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, dysphoric symptoms, and anxiety symptoms in predicting aggressive behavior in a sample of 265 male combat veterans seeking diagnostic assessment of PTSD. Combat exposure was indirectly associated with aggression primarily through its relationship with PTSD symptoms. Symptoms of PTSD were directly related to aggression, and indirectly related to aggression through dysphoric symptoms. Results highlight the role of PTSD symptoms and dysphoric symptoms with respect to aggressive behavior among this population, and suggest the relevance of aggression theory to the study of combat veterans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying and treating depression has been a major focus in primary care over the last decade. Unfortunately, treatments have not been as successful as originally hoped. The current study investigated factors that may contribute to poor outcomes in a sample of VA primary care patients. Results indicate that 15.5% of the patients in this investigation had significant symptoms of depression. The vast majority (89.6%) of these patients also had significant symptoms of at least one additional comorbid psychiatric condition. Furthermore, an association between depression and unhealthy behaviors (smoking, not exercising) was demonstrated. Finally, sexual dysfunction and chronic pain were more frequently observed in individuals with depressive symptoms. These findings illustrate that depression is only one of many problems for most primary care patients identified with depression. A multidisciplinary team in primary care is recommended to provide a coordinated approach to the treatment of depression and its associated problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in medical settings, mental health problems often go undetected and patients do not receive appropriate treatment. The main goal of this study is to provide additional information about the Beck Anxiety Inventory — Primary Care (BAI—PC), a brief instrument that screens for patients with anxiety. This study provides information on the performance of the BAI—PC as a screening instrument for depression and PTSD in addition to its original purpose as a screening instrument for anxiety. This efficient tool can identify patients who can benefit from effective psychological treatments and facilitate referrals to psychologists working in medical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]