Graduate Training and Provider Concerns About Distress and Comprehension in PTSD Treatment Choice: A Mediation Analysis

Jiyoung Song, Hector A. Garcia, Erin P. Finley, Shannon Wiltsey Stirman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) recommends that patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) receive either of the 2 frontline evidence-based psychotherapies, cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE). However, VHA providers have reported low use of these treatments, and voiced their concerns over exposing patients to distress in PE and their patients not understanding CPT. In the current study, we surveyed VHA providers (N = 225) in PTSD clinical teams across the United States on their graduate school training experience in structured cognitive– behavioral therapy protocols, agreement with the 2 provider concerns, and use of the 2 treatments. Results from our mediation analyses indicated that graduate school training in structured protocols led to lower discomfort of exposing patients to distress during PE, and in turn, greater PE utilization. However, there was no significant relationship between graduate school training and CPT utilization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)533-542
Number of pages10
JournalPsychological Services
Volume18
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • PTSD
  • evidence-based psychotherapies
  • implementation
  • treatment decision-making
  • treatment utilization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Applied Psychology

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