Evaluation of a group intervention for veterans who experienced military related trauma

Military-related trauma and veteran status have been linked with post-traumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and other personal and interpersonal difficulties. While many treatment evaluations for people with post-traumatic stress exist, few veteran populations or group formats have been evaluated. This report presents an evaluation of the Veterans Transition Program (VTP)–a group-based treatment for veterans who experienced a military-related trauma that is negatively impacting their lives. Fifty-six veterans attended the VTP; all attended every session and completed pre- and post-tests assessing post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms. Significant pre- to post-test improvement was found on all scales. These findings demonstrate the potential benefit of the VTP and encourage further research.