TRAUMA MANAGEMENT THERAPY - A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF A MULTICOMPONENT BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC COMBAT-RELATED PTSD

The development and initial evaluation of a new, comprehensive and mul ticomponent behavioral treatment (Trauma Management Therapy, or TMT) f or chronic combat-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is des cribed. The program utilizes elements of intensive exposure therapy, p rogrammed practice, and structured social and emotional skills trainin g to target the multiple aspects of chronic combat-related PTSD. The t reatment was found to be effective in alleviating a broad spectrum of difficulties in combat veterans with chronic PTSD, most of whom had co -occuring Axis I and/or Axis II disorders. The results are discussed w ith respect to the implementation of the new treatment and the general need for a comprehensive approach to treating combat-related PTSD. Im plications for the potential cost-effectiveness of the treatment progr am also are discussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.