Combat Veteran Mental Health Outcomes After Short-Term Counseling Services

Combat veterans suffer from elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and generalized anxiety relative to the general population and other non-deployed veterans. Furthermore, many studies are currently evaluating the efficacy of interventions (e.g., cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure) with samples of combat veterans seeking mental health treatment at the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, a growing number of veterans are seeking mental health treatment outside of the VA/DoD as there have been long waiting times and a preference for group psychotherapy over individual one-on-one treatment. Moreover, the VA/DoD has mostly relied on manualized treatment approaches that often require a single “index event” when there are possibly more traumatic events that also need to be addressed. To fill this gap in the literature, this study used a community-based sample of treatment-seeking combat veterans (N = 68) who completed measures for PTSD (PTSD Checklist-5), depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), and generalized anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory). We conducted a paired t-test to evaluate the efficacy of clinical services. The licensed clinicians used a non-manualized approach, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and narrative exposure, in a brief six-session course of treatment. Results showed statistically significant reductions in symptoms of PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety from baseline to session 6. Combat veterans treated in a civilian community-based clinic showed significant benefits in a relatively brief course of treatment. These findings are encouraging and suggest that research should continue to explore evidence-based treatments for combat veterans.