Open Trial of Behavioral Activation and Social Engagement (BASE) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that some people develop
following exposure to a traumatic event. PTSD often results in a reduction in feelings of
connection to other people and changes in views about others, as well as reduced
participation in valued activities. Many veterans with PTSD do not seek treatment offered in
specialty mental health settings and may forgo treatment of any kind.

This study is an open-trial format (no comparison condition) of U.S. military veterans who
will participate in a brief psychotherapy treatment for PTSD offered in a Primary Care
setting. This is a pilot trial to see if the treatment is effective at reducing symptoms of
PTSD and increasing feelings of social support, and an exploratory aim is to see if veterans
engage in additional treatment after completing this treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Veterans who:

1. are currently enrolled in either of the Primary Care Clinics (including Women's
Clinic) or Primary Care Mental Health Integration clinic at VA Puget Sound Health
Care System - Seattle Division

2. meet criteria for clinical or subclinical PTSD

3. are willing to have therapy sessions audiotaped for the purposes of supervision

4. plan to live in the Seattle area for 6 months following entry into the study

Exclusion Criteria:

- Veterans who:

1. exhibit the presence of severe mental illness diagnosis (e.g., active psychosis
and/or uncontrolled bipolar disorder)

2. have been a psychiatric in-patient admission in the past 30 days

3. have had a suicide attempt in the last 60 days

4. have had a plan or intent to harm self or others in the last 30 days

5. have a behavioral flag in their medical record

6. have had a psychiatric medication dosing or receipt that has changed in the last
30 days

7. are unwilling to provide at least 1 collateral contact

8. have impaired decision making capacity (as measured by evidence in the
Computerized Patient Record System record of moderate-severe Traumatic Brain
Injury, uncontrolled psychosis, dementia, communication flag, or by clinical
judgment in speaking with the participant

9. are prisoners

10. are illiterate or have limited or no English proficiency

11. are terminally ill