Assessing the Efficacy of Using the PTSD Coach Mobile Application for Managing PTSD Symptoms: Results Using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-21

Background: Primary care settings often become the first place where patients with mental health concerns go, especially with shortages of mental health providers. During Covid-19 mental health concerns increased, increasing the demand of primary care providers to help assist patients navigate their concerns. Hypothesis: Participants that use the PTSD Coach App for 30 days will have reduced HSCL-21 follow-up scores compared to their intake. Methods: Patients were recruited from the Rowan-Virtua family medicine office in Sewell. The PCL-5 with the HSCL-21 was administered, with patients then using the PTSD Coach app for 30 days. Researchers followed up with patients after this period, where the PCL-5 was administered again. Results: 4 out of 21 HSCL-21 questions showed a reduction in scores. Conclusions: The PTSD Coach app may be an effective tool, but needs to be studied further. Future directions include determining loss of follow-up in patients and continuing to analyze collected data to see the effectiveness of the PTSD Coach app