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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Cynthia Price, PhD, Psychosocial and Community Health, University of Washington, box 357263, Seattle, WA 98195, 206-985-7840, cynthiap@u.washington.edu, Brittney McBride, MA, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S. Columbian Way (S-116 ATC), Seattle, WA 98108, and Lynne Hyerle, MA, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S. Columbian Way (S-116 ATC), Seattle, WA 98108.

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of body-oriented psychotherapy for female veterans. Focused on somatic awareness, the intervention involved the combination of massage and the emotional processing of psychotherapy. This study examined recruitment and follow-up feasibility, intervention acceptability, measure acceptability and performance, and fidelity with which the intervention was implemented relative to the manualized protocol. A two-group, randomized, repeated measures design was employed. Fourteen female veterans were recruited from a VA Women's Clinic; inclusion criteria included PTSD, chronic pain, and use of a prescription analgesic. Participants were randomly assigned to either the Treatment as Usual Group or the Intervention Group. The intervention involved 8 weekly sessions of body-oriented psychotherapy. Six outcome measures were administered at 3 time points to assess psychological and physical well-being. Written questionnaire and interview were used to assess intervention acceptability. The results indicated the overall feasibility and acceptability of body-oriented therapy for female veterans within the VA health care system. While achieving the recruitment goal was difficult, there was substantial interest in study participation. The retention of study participants was excellent, as was the response to study procedures. Questionnaire responses suggest that the intervention increased access to emotional experience, increased self-efficacy, and provided participants with new tools for self-care. Many outcome measures demonstrated reliable change across time, suggesting the need of a larger sample to examine efficacy. Feasibility would likely be enhanced by less stringent inclusion criteria; more sessions in the intervention program, and integration with existing health care services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to

• Articulate the acceptability of the body-oriented therapy intervention to female veterans with PTSD and chronic pain.
• Identify the barriers to feasibility of a larger efficacy trial of body-oriented therapy to female veterans at a VA.
• Describe the primary elements of the body-oriented therapy intervention delivered in this study.

Keywords: Women's Health, Veterans' Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation