Grove Allen B, Sheerin Christina M, Wallace Rachel E, Green Brooke A, Minnich Angela H, Kurtz Erin D
Department of Mental Health, Central Virginia VA Health Care System, Richmond, Virginia.
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Mil Psychol. 2024 Sep 2;36(5):567-577. doi: 10.1080/08995605.2023.2236924. Epub 2023 Jul 24.
Previous research has indicated that a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)-Informed Group focused on changing irrational beliefs to address comorbid depression and anxiety (as well as anger and guilt) in a combat Veteran population diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) demonstrated significant reductions in depression and PTSD symptoms at posttreatment. However, mechanisms of change associated with improvement have not been evaluated. REBT theory suggests that a decline in irrational beliefs predicts a decrease in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to test this tenet of REBT theory in a naturalistic treatment setting. Participants ( = 86) were post-9/11 combat Veterans, engaged in the REBT-Informed Group between October 2016 and February 2020. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that a reduction in irrational beliefs predicted notable decreases in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms controlling for several covariates. This study extends previous research demonstrating the success of the REBT-Informed Group with combat Veterans and gives support to REBT theory regarding the effect of a decline in irrational beliefs. Future directions include replication of findings with Veterans who experienced military sexual trauma (MST), pre-9/11 Veterans, those at other military or Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, and civilians to determine generalizability.
先前的研究表明，一个基于理性情绪行为疗法（REBT）的团体聚焦于改变非理性信念，以解决被诊断患有创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的退伍军人群体中的共病抑郁和焦虑（以及愤怒和内疚）问题，该团体在治疗后抑郁和PTSD症状有显著减轻。然而，与改善相关的改变机制尚未得到评估。REBT理论表明，非理性信念的减少预示着PTSD、抑郁和焦虑症状的减轻。本研究旨在自然主义治疗环境中检验REBT理论的这一信条。参与者（n = 86）为9·11事件后的退伍军人，于2016年10月至2020年2月期间参加了基于REBT的团体治疗。分层多元回归分析结果表明，在控制了几个协变量后，非理性信念的减少预示着PTSD、抑郁和焦虑症状显著减轻。本研究扩展了先前关于基于REBT的团体治疗对退伍军人有效的研究，并支持了REBT理论中关于非理性信念减少的影响的观点。未来的方向包括在经历过军事性创伤（MST）的退伍军人、9·11事件前的退伍军人、其他军事或退伍军人事务（VA）医疗中心的人员以及平民中重复这些发现，以确定其普遍性。
