OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results from exposure to traumatic events. Social support is negatively related to PTSD symptoms in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. It is unclear, however, if social support is associated with treatment response for PTSD. The current study evaluated the extent to which social support was associated with PTSD treatment response among treatment-seeking veterans receiving prolonged exposure (PE). It was hypothesized that social support would improve PTSD treatment response and that PTSD symptom reduction would improve social support. METHOD: A total of 123 veterans were recruited from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and evaluated for PTSD, diagnostic-related symptoms, and social support. All participants received PE. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Findings suggested that elevated social support during treatment was associated with greater reductions in PTSD symptoms during treatment. Social support also increased during treatment. Increases in social support were not moderated by PTSD symptoms during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that social support and PTSD symptoms are related throughout treatment. Social support moderated the change in PTSD symptoms, whereas PTSD symptoms did not moderate changes in social support.
OBJECTIVE:Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results from exposure to traumatic events. Social support is negatively related to PTSD symptoms in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. It is unclear, however, if social support is associated with treatment response for PTSD. The current study evaluated the extent to which social support was associated with PTSD treatment response among treatment-seeking veterans receiving prolonged exposure (PE). It was hypothesized that social support would improve PTSD treatment response and that PTSD symptom reduction would improve social support. METHOD: A total of 123 veterans were recruited from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and evaluated for PTSD, diagnostic-related symptoms, and social support. All participants received PE. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Findings suggested that elevated social support during treatment was associated with greater reductions in PTSD symptoms during treatment. Social support also increased during treatment. Increases in social support were not moderated by PTSD symptoms during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that social support and PTSD symptoms are related throughout treatment. Social support moderated the change in PTSD symptoms, whereas PTSD symptoms did not moderate changes in social support.
Authors: Matthew Jakupcak; Katherine D Hoerster; Alethea Varra; Steven Vannoy; Bradford Felker; Stephen Hunt Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: Ron Acierno; Daniel F Gros; Kenneth J Ruggiero; B Melba A Hernandez-Tejada; Rebecca G Knapp; Carl W Lejuez; Wendy Muzzy; Christopher B Frueh; Leonard E Egede; Peter W Tuerk Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2016-02-10 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Matthew Price; Jessica L Maples; Tanja Jovanovic; Seth D Norrholm; Mary Heekin; Barbara O Rothbaum Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2015-02-19 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Amy M Kilbourne; John F McCarthy; Edward P Post; Deborah Welsh; Frederic C Blow Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2007-05-22 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Robert H Pietrzak; Douglas C Johnson; Marc B Goldstein; James C Malley; Steven M Southwick Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2009 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: K J Bourassa; D J Smolenski; A Edwards-Stewart; S B Campbell; G M Reger; A M Norr Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2019-09-10 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Jordan S Carter; Angela M Kearns; Kelsey M Vollmer; Constanza Garcia-Keller; Rachel A Weber; Nathaniel L Baker; Peter W Kalivas; Carmela M Reichel Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2020-03-03 Impact factor: 4.530