Exposure Therapy For Veterans With PTSD And Panic Attacks

With the increasing number of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF)
Veterans returning from war-zone areas, many will experience anxiety disorders such as PTSD
and comorbid problems. Currently, about one in every six OIF/OEF Veterans experiences PTSD
and co-occurring PD. Although effective treatments exist for treating one or the other, we do
not yet have treatments that can simultaneously target PTSD and PD. Thus, recent attention
has focused on the development of multi-component treatments that simultaneously address PTSD
and PD. This study is the first systematic investigation of a time-limited, multi-component
cognitive-behavioral treatment for Veterans with specific comorbid anxiety problems. The
purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the multi-component
cognitive-behavioral treatment in comparison to standard PTSD treatment in military personnel
returning from active duty.

Inclusion Criteria:

- being a Veteran of any era;

- being enrolled in the TRP at the MEDVAMC, with a current diagnosis of PTSD and PD;

- being stable on psychotropic medication for 4 weeks before study participation; and

- being at least 18 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

- active substance dependence, or bipolar or psychotic disorders;

- severe depression and [active suicidal ideation and intent] (based on ADIS-IV &
BDI-II);

- cognitive impairment as indicated by the SLUMS; and

- Veterans currently receiving psychosocial treatment specifically targeting PTSD or
panic symptoms.