Study Shows Sub-Clinical PTSD Responds Better to Established Treatment

Subclinical post-traumatic stress disorder is not something that often makes the news. The condition means that veterans exposed to trauma experience some, but not all, of the symptoms required for a diagnosis of PTSD. While their service has affected their lives, it hasn’t done so drastically enough to warrant a formal diagnosis (according to the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

The mental health care system in this country is, in a word, inadequate. At all levels, the need for treatment far outweighs the availability of care. A new study from our own Medical University of South Carolina might provide relief for those who don’t exhibit the minimum number of symptoms required for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Examining an overlooked problem

The study, published in the March issue of the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, was conducted by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at MUSC. It examined the effects of standard PTSD psychotherapy regimen on two groups of veterans. One of the groups consisted of veterans with subclinical PTSD, while the other was comprised of veterans formally diagnosed with the disorder.

EurekaAlert! reported, “For eight weeks, patients received intensive weekly sessions of behavioral activation and therapeutic exposure therapy, designed to lessen their PTSD symptoms by helping them safely re-experience and resolve elements of the original trauma. Psychologists rated the patients’ PTSD symptoms and had patients rate their own symptoms before, during, and after the eight weeks.”

Early intervention is far more successful

The methodology was far more effective than anyone predicted. Those with full PTSD saw an 11% reduction in symptoms, but those with subclinical PTSD saw a staggering reduction of 29%. While it may seem obvious in retrospect that treatment is more effective earlier on, the implications for future PTSD sufferers are enormous. PTSD symptoms often become worse over time; subclinical PTSD might come to be seen as a precursor to the full-fledged disorder, and treatment could begin earlier, reducing the full effects.

This study is particularly important because, at the moment, there is no standard treatment regimen for subclinical PTSD. In addition, these findings could provide hope for others who have suffered the traumatic emotional effects of a devastating accident. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we support all research efforts that benefit our active and veteran military members, and we hope that this research will help victims everywhere.

If you or a loved one has suffered emotional trauma after an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering and treatment. The experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. Call us at 803-327-7800, visit our offices around the state, or contact us today for a free consultation.