Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PTD)

There are several strengths that should be noted within this research design. By using purposive sampling, we are purposively studying veterans that are receiving services at the VA whom are diagnosed with PTSD. This is a strength because we are gaining knowledge on a specific population that has not been studied in depth, thus our research will hopefully shed light on the lack of treatment options that veterans at the VA have access to. By splitting the veterans into two separate groups with one group receiving EMDR and the other receiving CBT, we will be able to identify which therapy option is working more effectively. By using the CAPS-5 as our standardized measurement, we are able to identify whether or not CBT/EMDR therapy is successful

Since the military and VA healthcare systems are familiar with the high prevalence rate of PTSD among combat veterans, Capehart and Bass (2012) sought to address four primary objectives related to managing comorbid PTSD and TBI: cognitive problems, blast as an injury source for TBI, diagnosis and management of PTSD in the setting of mTBI, and management of additional neuropsychiatric comorbidity in the combat veteran with PTSD and mTBI. Although no clear guide exists on the simultaneous management of these conditions and managing PTSD and TBI remains challenging for the Dpartment of Defense (DOD) and VA clinicians in mental health and primary care, the researchers suggest that using psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy,

The patients generally come to the clinical settings when secondary stage psychological problems surface. Therefore, early detection of symptoms and impactful intervention is the key to effective management of PTSD [27].

I will be collaborating with The National Institute of Mental Health for the funding of the research project. The research will attempt to identify what factors determine whether someone with PTSD will respond well to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention, aiming to develop more personalized, effective and efficient treatments. The mission of this project is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure (National Institutes of Health, 2013).

To effectively treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD in combat Veterans and service members, therapists use different techniques, which are preceded by addressing any underlying pain associated with the disorder. In their research, Chard et al. (2011) reported significant modifications to the CPT protocol for use with patients in a TBI-PTSD residential treatment facility, including increasing the number of sessions per week, combining group and individual therapy, and augmenting the treatment with cognitive rehabilitation. However, their research was marred with the use of few participants which provides doubts regarding the outcome of the proposed treatment procedures. Moreover, the researchers do not state with certainty as to the

There are multiple components of cognitive behavioral therapy. People develop faulty beliefs throughout trials in life. Thoughts and feelings can become a dysfunctional part of a person’s character. Faulty belief systems can affect a person’s life in a multitude of ways. Faulty belief systems can develop into problematic behaviors that negatively affect a person’s relationships with family, friends as well a person’s work relationships. One example, if a person thinks they are unattractive, that person may develop a low self esteem. A person with a low self esteem can make choices regarding relationships that may be detrimental to the person.

Although American service members have felt the lasting effects of combat throughout the history of the nation, it was not until 1980 that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was formally added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Once referred to as “irritable heart” or “shell-shock,” PTSD made its way into the national spotlight in the years following the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan due to U.S. military members having difficulty reintegrating into civilian life. High rates of suicide, depression, and elevated levels of violent crime within the veteran community made the need to find an effective treatment of this disorder a top priority for the Veterans Health Administration. While it is widely accepted by medical professionals that there is no single, definitive cure for PTSD, many different methods have been cultivated within the past 15 years that make coping with it an easier process; some to a greater extent than others. While medications, namely antidepressants and benzodiazepines, usually find themselves at the forefront of any discussion regarding mental debilitation, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution to the problems that combat veterans face. As this particular disorder is attached to a certain memory or traumatic occurrence, alternative methods of rehabilitation such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) have also shown promise in

Prior to CBT, the participants in the study (Resick et al., 2012) completed PTSD symptom scale, self-report measure, and diagnostic interviews. They then received a total of 13 hours CBT, achieved through twice weekly sessions. Finally, they took the posttest assessments, then long-term posttest assessments 5-10 years after completing the study. At posttest, the sample went from 100% diagnosed with PTSD to 22.2% in the long-term follow-up. This data supports that CBT helped a significant portion of this group of female sexual assault survivors reduce their symptoms to the point that they no longer meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and the results were lasting for most, with only two who relapsed (Resick et al., 2012)

Cognitive therapy, now called cognitive behavioral therapy was developed by Aaron Beck. Beck believed that dysfunctional thought processes and beliefs are responsible for an individual’s behaviors and feelings. He also believed that individuals’ have the ability identify these distorted thoughts and change them to more realistic thinking in order to relieve their psychological discomfort. This type of therapy is designed to be a short-term, straight-forward and structured approach to counseling in which counselors and clients work together. I strongly identify with cognitive behavioral therapy because I believe all behaviors are a result of incorrect thoughts and beliefs. Irrational and negative thinking can influence an individual’s ability to cope and deal with any difficulties they may be experiencing. I also like cognitive behavioral therapy because it briefly includes a client’s historical background in its approach to counseling. I feel that counselors should include a client’s past experiences when trying to understand at what point the client’s incorrect assumptions developed. I believe that everybody in this world always has a choice on how they handle and behave in their given situation and circumstances. In cognitive behavioral therapy, once the counselor and client have identified the irrational thoughts and evaluated whether there is any evidence to its validity, the client has the ability to choose whether or not they desire to change their distorted ways of

About fourteen percent of combat veterans have been evaluated and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder because of exposure to traumatic or life-threatening combat events (Grupe et al. 2). Deployed infantry soldiers have multiple tactics to repel and protect against enemy invaders during war time. Since the duty of infantry soldiers and officers is dangerous and exhausting, if not properly trained and disciplined, complications to the health of the soldiers and officers can occur such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By developing new therapeutic models and treatment programs a solution to PTSD, a major psychiatric issue, can arise ( Issitt, “Point” 1). Infantry soldiers exposed to trauma are often diagnosed with PTSD, but, there are multiple medical and psychiatric developments available as treatment options.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a global issue that affects more than 44.7 million people (“PTSD Statistics”, 2013). The highest prevalence of the disorder occurs in the United States - affecting approximately eight percent of the country (Kessler et al, 1995; “PTSD Statistics”, 2013). The most vulnerable population to developing this disorder include military men and women returning from war (Hoge et al, 2004), with roughly 20% of veterans from the most recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars being diagnosed with PTSD (“The Critical Need”, 2015). Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined as a condition, in which an individual can become overcome by the psychological and emotional components attached to a particular traumatic event, and that

If veterans do struggle with PTSD after they return from combat the Department of Veterans Affairs, a governmental agency that helps struggling veterans recover, offers two treatments. Studies have been done to see if one of the therapies is more effective than the other. There is not yet evidence that one therapy is better than the other. Cognitive processing therapy, CPT, helps by giving the vet a new way to deal with the maladaptive thoughts that come with PTSD. It also comforts them in gaining a new understanding of the traumatic events that happened to them. One of the other benefits of CPT is that it assists the person in learning how these disturbing events change the way they look at everything in life and helps them cope with that (“PTSD: National”). The second newer option of the two is prolonged exposure therapy, which is repeated exposure to these thoughts, feelings, and situations (“Most PTSD”). This type of therapy is now a central piece in the VA’s war on PTSD. “The problem with prolonged exposure is that it also has made a number of veterans violent, suicidal, and depressed, and it has a dropout rate that some researchers put at more than 50 percent, the highest dropout rate of any PTSD therapy that has been widely studied so far,”(“Trauma Post”). Both of the therapies are proven to reduce the symptoms but both have extremely high drop out rates and low follow through. It

All of the OTA's had knowledge while working with the clients, and addressing their psychosocial needs. Some of the clients seen for their therapy session today worked in groups, to increase there social participation with others. The group was all males group, that were in there middle ages, had simpler disorders. The therapist's had the knowledge of the different activities they had planed, for their clients. Some of the different roles of the therapist consists of a helper as the therapist, and the leader of the group. The leader was encharge of explaining the directions, and answer any questions the clients might have. The helper therapist main role was to increase the participation of the activities planed, or made assist the

During phase one, the client will provide detailed information on their current dietary patterns provided through a 5 day Food & Activity form. This will provide data to begin to determine what dietary habits in need of transition.

The Cognitive Behavioural and Person-Centred approaches to therapy have many theoretical and practical differences, however they are also similar in their view of the individuals they seek to help. This essay will look at a hypothetical case study, involving a client named Stan who has been ordered to attend therapy sessions by a judge in relation to a driving under the influence of alcohol charge. Stan presents a number of issues affecting his self-image, confidence, identity and motivation. For the purpose of this essay, Stan’s depression and anxiety will be examined in the context of both Cognitive Behavioural and Person-Centred approaches to therapy. Additionally, the integration of these two approaches and the limitations and ethical considerations of such an amalgam will also be addressed.