Increasing Treatment Engagement by Combining Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD With Simultaneous Care Management Services: A Case Study

• Combined CPT and care management effectively reduced PTSD and depression symptoms. • Patient showed sustained symptom reduction at 1- and 4-month follow-ups. • Care management enhanced CPT fidelity. • Care management and CPT integration may lower EBP dropout rates in PTSD treatment. This case study explored the use of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) combined with care management in treating a 35-year-old African American woman who was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatment aimed to address both PTSD symptoms and social determinants of health (SDoH) concerns. Maya completed a full course of 10 CPT sessions and as-needed care management, resulting in a clinically significant reduction in PTSD and depression symptoms, which were maintained at follow-up intervals. The study illustrates that integrating care management with evidence-based PTSD therapy not only efficiently reduces PTSD symptoms but also connects patients to essential resources. The inclusion of care management allowed the therapist to maintain high fidelity to trauma-focused content while the care manager addressed SDoH-related needs. The case underscores the potential benefits of combining care management with CPT, particularly in challenging stuck points related to accessing community resources. These findings suggest that this integrated approach may lead to better overall outcomes, including symptom reduction and improved access to necessary services. Future research is recommended to systematically investigate the cost-effectiveness and broader applicability of this combined treatment approach.