A Feasibility Study of Trauma-Informed Brief Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress using a Telehealth Approach

Abstract Purpose: The present study examined the feasibility of using telehealth videoconferencing to administer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment to veterans to overcome therapy-related barriers such as difficulties accessing mental health care from traditional in-person clinics. This dissertation reports the results of a brief trauma-informed adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to examine the hypotheses that such a curriculum, delivered over telehealth will significantly decrease dropout rates while improving PTSD symptoms. Methods: A sample of 11 veterans with PTSD were recruited from local veteran organizations. A short-term longitudinal design using standardized measures to monitor symptoms and changes before and after the mindfulness intervention was adopted. Hypotheses were tested with repeated-measures t-tests to examine differences between pre- and post-test scores on the standardized measures. Session-by-session checklists were completed to track attrition and therapist adherence to the intervention. Results: Statistical analysis of pre- and post-test measures did not support the study’s hypothesis that veterans would experience a statistically significant decrease in PTSD symptoms as a result of receiving the brief intervention; however, analysis of attrition rates did support the hypothesis that 10% or less of participants would dropout before completing the treatment program. Implications and Conclusions: Study results indicate that the use of a telehealth approach to deliver trauma treatment is feasible and reduces veteran attrition; in addition, data implies that completion of homework assignments between sessions may be essential to treatment progress and delivering eight sessions over four weeks (massed therapy) may be necessary to promote therapeutic efficacy of the brief trauma-focused mindfulness intervention.