Depression sudden gains and transient depression spikes during treatment for PTSD

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Stephanie M KellerLori A Zoellner

Abstract

We know little about how change unfolds in depression symptoms during posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment or how patient characteristics predict depression symptom change. This study examined critical transition points in depression symptoms during PTSD treatment, namely, depression sudden gains, which are rapid symptom improvements and transient depression spikes, which are transient depression worsenings. Social support, one of the strongest predictors of PTSD development, was examined as a predictor of depression symptom discontinuities. At pretreatment, 200 participants (76.6% female; 64.9% Caucasian; age M = 37.1, SD = 11.3 years) completed measures of PTSD severity (PTSD Symptom Scale-Self-Report), depression severity (Beck Depression Inventory), general social support (Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors; Social Support Questionnaire), and trauma-related social support (Social Reactions Questionnaire). During 10 weeks of prolonged exposure (PE) or sertraline, depression was assessed weekly. Overall, 18.0% of participants experienced a depression sudden gain, and 22.5% experienced a transient depression spike. The presence of a depression sudden gain predicted better treatment outcome, β = -4.82, SE = 1....Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 6, 2016·Behaviour Research and Therapy·Sadie E LarsenPatricia A Resick
Aug 29, 2019·Journal of Traumatic Stress·Vanessa M JacobyUNKNOWN STRONG STAR Consortium
Sep 1, 2018·Child and Adolescent Mental Health·Matthew P MychailyszynBrittany Gibby
Dec 3, 2016·The British Journal of Clinical Psychology·Joris F G HaagenRolf J Kleber

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