Q&A: PTSD program provides benefit within 3 months

A PTSD program initially developed for veterans is now serving and providing benefits to civilians, with treatment typically lasting 1 week to 3 months.

The Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative for Veterans (STRIVE) was developed at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. According to the STRIVE website, it “is the only research institute in the U.S. that explicitly focuses on developing, refining and treating in the areas of suicide, trauma and gun-related violence risk reduction.”

STRIVE was able to expand its services to civilians after a 2022 donation, according to the website. Notably, it reports that more than 70% of veterans and military service members no longer have PTSD after their treatment, and suicide attempts among veterans and service members have decreased by up to 76%.

Healio spoke with Craig Bryan, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and founder of STRIVE, to learn more about the program.

Healio: Why was the STRIVE program developed?

Bryan: The STRIVE program was developed to improve and refine treatments for adults with PTSD, especially those with elevated risk for suicide. A key focus of our program is testing different ways to deliver effective treatments for PTSD to determine if we can further improve their effectiveness.

Healio: How does it work?

Bryan: Interested individuals first reach out to us to complete an initial screening to determine if they are likely to be eligible for one of our projects. If so, we conduct a thorough assessment that includes a diagnostic interview with a mental health professional, self-report surveys and a review of their medical and mental health treatment history. Once eligibility is confirmed, we schedule people for various program activities, the core activities typically being psychotherapy. The psychotherapy can be delivered either in-person or virtually using online platforms (eg, telehealth).

Healio: How does this program compare with other available therapies and treatments for PTSD?

Bryan: Our program uses two particular types of treatments that are considered first-line or “gold standard” for PTSD: cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure. Both of these treatments are approximately equivalent in effectiveness and work in different ways, so it’s easy to have a “back-up” or Plan B if the first option doesn’t work. Research shows that up to 80% of people who receive one of these therapies benefit, with over half of people benefiting enough that they no longer have PTSD afterward.

Healio: The program has been tailored to active-duty military and veterans but has recently expanded. With this expansion, who can now access these services?

Bryan: The program is now available to all adults with PTSD.

Healio: Are there any plans to expand the program to different locations?

Bryan: We work with multiple universities and organizations who can provide these same treatments so that someone who is unable to participate in our program can nonetheless gain access to the treatments from other sources.

Healio: Is there anything else you would like to highlight about the program?

Bryan: One of our core areas of expertise is working with people who have attempted suicide and/or have been contemplating suicide. Unfortunately, many programs that provide treatments for PTSD are unable to enroll people with elevated risk for suicide. We can therefore serve as an important source of care for those experiencing this unique combination of issues. We have been developing and testing new ways to integrate proven suicide prevention interventions into PTSD treatments and have promising early results suggesting these integrated approaches are more effective than existing approaches.

Reference:

• The Ohio State University College of Medicine. STRIVE. https://medicine.osu.edu/departments/psychiatry-and-behavioral-health/strive. Accessed Feb. 23, 2023.