Comparison of Adding Treatment of PTSD During and After Shelter Stay to Standard Care in Residents of Battered Women's Shelters: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

• Published in: Journal of traumatic stress 2016-08, Vol.29 (4), p.365-373
• Main Authors: Johnson, Dawn M., Johnson, Nicole L., Perez, Sara K., Palmieri, Patrick A., Zlotnick, Caron
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Battered Women - psychology; Battered Women - statistics & numerical data; Clinical trials; Depression - therapy; Domestic violence; Empowerment; Female; Humans; Post traumatic stress disorder; Power (Psychology); Severity of Illness Index; Shelters; Social Support; Spouse Abuse - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0894-9867; 1573-6598
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.22117

This study explored the acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of an expanded version of a PTSD treatment developed for residents of battered women's shelters, Helping to Overcome PTSD through Empowerment (HOPE) in women who received standard shelter services (SSSs). A Phase I randomized clinical trial comparing HOPE + SSSs (n = 30) to SSSs (n = 30) was conducted. Primary outcome measures included the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale (Blake et al., 1995) and the Revised Conflict Tactic Scales (Straus, Hamby, Boney‐McCoy, & Sugarman, ). Participants were followed at 1‐week, and 3‐ and 6‐months posttreatment. Only 2 women dropped out of HOPE + SSS treatment. Latent growth curve analyses found significant treatment effects for PTSD from intimate partner violence (IPV) (β = −.007, p = .021), but not for future IPV (β = .002, p = .709) across follow‐up points. Significant effects were also found for secondary outcomes of depression severity (β = −.006, p = .052), empowerment (β = .155, p = .022), and resource gain (β = .158, p = .036). Additionally, more women in HOPE + SSSs were employed at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up compared to those in SSSs only. Results showed the acceptability and feasibility of adding IPV‐related treatment to standard services. They also suggested that HOPE may be a promising treatment for residents of battered women's shelters. Further research with a larger sample, utilizing more diverse shelter settings and a more rigorous control condition, is needed to confirm these findings. Resumen Spanish s by the Asociación Chilena de Estrés Traumático (ACET) Tratamiento continuo para el TEPT Este estudio exploró la aceptabilidad, viabilidad y eficacia inicial de una versión ampliada de un tratamiento para el TEPT desarrollado para residentes de casas de acogida para mujeres maltratadas, Ayudando a Superar el TEPT a través del Empoderamiento (HOPE, por sus siglas en inglés) en mujeres que recibieron servicios de acogida estandar (SSS por sus siglas en inglés). Se condujo un estudio clínico aleatorizado Fase l que comparó HOPE+SSS (n = 30) con SSS (n = 30). Los resultados de las mediciones primarias incluyeron la Escala de TEPT Administrada por el Clínico y la Escala Táctica de Conflictos Revisada. Las participantes fueron seguidas a la semana, 3 y 6 meses postratamiento. Solo 2 mujeres abandonaron el tratamiento HOPE+SSS. El análisis de la curva de crecimiento latente encontró  efectos significativos en el tratamiento para TEPT por Viole