Group Intervention for Interpersonal Trauma

Georgetown University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Depression

Treatments: Behavioral: Group Intervention for Interpersonal Trauma; Other: Information only

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00348036

DSIR 83-ATAS

P20MH068450 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will assess the acceptability and effectiveness of a six-session, modular, repeating group for low-income women who have symptoms of depression and/or post-traumatic stress disorder following interpersonal trauma exposure.

Full description

The aim of this study is to assess the acceptability and effectiveness of a six-session, modular, repeating group for low-income women who have symptoms of depression and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following interpersonal trauma exposure. Group participants will be recruited from public sector/safety net primary care clinics. Study participants will be randomized to immediate or delayed treatment. Participants in both conditions will receive information about PTSD and depression, in the form of a brochures and a DVD about trauma and its emotional consequences. Groups will be comprised of three components at each meeting: psycho-education, current relationship issues, and coping skills. Each group session will focus on a different aspect of education. Next, relationship difficulties typically associated with the symptoms discussed in that module will be addressed, and there will be group discussion about participants' relationship difficulties. Each group will end with the therapist teaching a coping skill that fits with the issues discussed earlier. Participants will be free to attend any of the sessions they missed during the first group when the group repeats. Participants in the delayed condition will be able to attend the groups after a 12-week waiting period. Assessments of PTSD, depression, functioning, and quality of life will be conducted at three time points: baseline (prior to the start of the group), 12 weeks after the start of the group, and 6 months from the start of the group. Gift cards will be sent to the women for completing each of the assessments.

Enrollment: 27 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Exposure to an interpersonal traumatic event
• Diagnosis of depression or PTSD (threshold or subthreshold)
• Functional literacy

Exclusion criteria

• Apparent incoherence or disorientation
• Apparent intoxication at recruitment
• Hearing impairment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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27 participants in 2 patient groups

Group therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive interpersonal group therapy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Group Intervention for Interpersonal Trauma

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive information only on PTSD.

Treatment:

Other: Information only