TY - JOUR
T1 - Nature adventure rehabilitation for combat-related posttraumatic chronic stress disorder
T2 - A randomized control trial
AU - Gelkopf, Marc
AU - Hasson-Ohayon, Ilanit
AU - Bikman, Menashe
AU - Kravetz, Shlomo
PY - 2013/10/30
Y1 - 2013/10/30
N2 - Chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CR-PTSD) is a condition with many treatment barriers. Nature Adventure Rehabilitation (NAR) as a second line or as a supplemental intervention has the potential to overcome some of these barriers and incorporate aspects of successful treatment modalities for PTSD within an experiential learning paradigm. In a pre-post controlled trial, CR-PTSD veterans (n=22) underwent a 1-year NAR intervention compared to a waiting list (WL) control group (n=20). Posttraumatic symptoms (PTS), depression, functional problems, quality of life, perceived control over illness (PCI) and hope were measured by self report measures. PTS, emotional and social quality of life, PCI, hope and functioning improved significantly. Change in PTS was contingent upon change in PCI. The current study is the first to present NAR as a promising supplemental intervention for chronic CR-PTSD. NAR seems to work through a process of behavioral activation, desensitization, gradual exposure to anxiety evoking situations and gaining control over symptomatology.
AB - Chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CR-PTSD) is a condition with many treatment barriers. Nature Adventure Rehabilitation (NAR) as a second line or as a supplemental intervention has the potential to overcome some of these barriers and incorporate aspects of successful treatment modalities for PTSD within an experiential learning paradigm. In a pre-post controlled trial, CR-PTSD veterans (n=22) underwent a 1-year NAR intervention compared to a waiting list (WL) control group (n=20). Posttraumatic symptoms (PTS), depression, functional problems, quality of life, perceived control over illness (PCI) and hope were measured by self report measures. PTS, emotional and social quality of life, PCI, hope and functioning improved significantly. Change in PTS was contingent upon change in PCI. The current study is the first to present NAR as a promising supplemental intervention for chronic CR-PTSD. NAR seems to work through a process of behavioral activation, desensitization, gradual exposure to anxiety evoking situations and gaining control over symptomatology.
KW - CR-PTSD
KW - Experiential learning
KW - Nature Adventure therapy
KW - PTSD
KW - Rehabilitation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885476227&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.01.026
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.01.026
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C2 - 23541513
AN - SCOPUS:84885476227
SN - 0165-1781
VL - 209
SP - 485
EP - 493
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
IS - 3
ER -