Clinical outcomes of veterans affairs residential PTSD treatment for PTSD and depressive symptoms: 1-year follow-up outcomes and gender differences

Abstract: Objective: The long-term effectiveness of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and how it may vary for men and women veterans, is unknown. This is the first national investigation of symptom change from admission, discharge, 4 months, and 1-year postdischarge from VA PTSD residential rehabilitation treatment programs (RRTPs). Method: Participants included all veterans discharged from 40 VA PTSD RRTPs October 1, 2017–September 30, 2020 (n = 2,937; 14.3% women). Linear mixed models examined PTSD and depressive symptoms across time points; it was hypothesized that women veterans would experience greater symptom reduction during and after treatment. Results: Overall, veterans reported large-sized reductions of PTSD symptoms at all time points (Cohen’s d: discharge = 1.23, 4-month follow-up d = 0.97, 1-year follow-up d = 1.51). Treatment effects for depressive symptoms were large-sized at all time points (Cohen’s d; discharge = 1.03, 4-month follow-up d = 0.94, 1-year follow-up d = 1.05). Women veterans showed greater improvement in PTSD and depressive symptom severity (p < .001) than men at discharge, but not at 4-month or 1-year follow-ups. Conclusions: Veterans reported significant reductions in PTSD and depressive symptoms, and treatment gains were maintained one year postdischarge. Women experienced greater benefit during, but not after, treatment. Results not only provide support for the effectiveness of VA residential treatment for PTSD but also highlight the continued need for strategies to maximize and maintain treatment gains. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) — This study found that U.S. military Veterans experienced significant reductions in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression during Veterans Affairs (VA) residential treatment for PTSD, and symptom gains were maintained one year after discharge. Women experienced greater symptom reduction during treatment; gender differences were not observed at 1-year follow-up. This is the first recent, national study to suggest that VA residential treatment for PTSD is effective at longer follow-up time points. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)