Veterans face stigma over PTSD: ‘Something that we as a country need to overcome’

Following attendance of the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference hosted by STRONG STAR and UT Health San Antonio, Shari Biediger reports on how the psychological wounds of war can linger long after military service, as well on advances that have been made in treatments and chances of recovery.

Hearing ‘Thank you for your service’ makes most young veterans uncomfortable, poll says

Leaders of a USAA-led initiative called "Face the Fight," including STRONG STAR investigator Katy Dondanville, PhD, of UT Health San Antonio, encourage us to "go beyond small talk" and connect with veterans on a deeper level to show our appreciation and lend support.

“Go Beyond Thanks:" New Survey Reveals We Should Do More Than Simply Thank Our Veterans for Their Service

As the nation prepares to observe Veterans Day this year, USAA hopes to challenge the nation to go beyond simple gratitude to create real, positive impacts in the veteran community. The news release includes comment by STRONG STAR investigator and UT Health San Antonio faculty member Katy Dondanville, PsyD.

A human condition: the PTSD diagnosis through the years

Post-traumatic stress disorder, once viewed with skepticism in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, has evolved into a widely accepted condition, shedding light on the traumas that define human experience. TPR’s Carson Frame spoke with Dr. Terence Keane, director of the National Center for PTSD-Behavioral Sciences Division, about that shift, beginning with the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study. Their conversation was in advance of Dr. Keane's keynote address at the 8th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, presented by the STRONG STAR Consortium and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

50 years since the Vietnam war: PTSD and how far we've come in treatments

Covering the 2023 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference presented by the STRONG STAR Consortium and UT Health San Antonio, News 4 reporter Mariza Mendoza speaks with STRONG STAR Director Dr. Alan Peterson about how our understanding and treatment of PTSD has advanced since the Vietnam War ended 50 years ago. U.S. Navy Veteran Hakim Mathis also shares his story of recovery from PTSD after receiving evidence-based treatment and encourages other veterans to seek the help if needed.

Commentary: Face the fight in ending veteran suicides in America

This commentary outlines the importance of Face the Fight, a veteran suicide prevention initiative launched this summer, by USAA, the Humana Foundation and Reach Resilience, an Endeavors Foundation. A coalition of corporations, foundations and nonprofits are supporting the effort, including the STRONG STAR Training Initiative based at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

If you have recurring nightmares, therapy can help you prevent and rewrite them to get a good night's sleep

Even if you can't always remember your dreams, research suggests we all have them. But sometimes our dreams can turn into nightmares. While most people experience the occasional nightmare, about 4% of US adults suffer from nightmare disorder, research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found. This condition causes frequent bad dreams that wreak havoc on a person's sleep and daily life.

In this article, sleep experts, including STRONG STAR invesigator Kristi Pruiksma, PhD, of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, explain nightmare causes and treatments.

Research roundup: Adapting evidence-based treatments for adults with PTSD

This APA Research Roundup features a spotlight on recently published research by STRONG STAR investigators. See article subhead "Patients with PTSD prefer in-home (i.e., old-fashioned "house calls") psychotherpay more so than telehealth or in the office"

How USAA’s Face the Fight Is Building a Coalition to Combat Veteran Suicide

Although veteran suicide rates have declined slightly since 2018, they are still alarming: 16 veterans die by suicide every day, a rate 57% higher than the larger American population. In response, USAA has launched Face the Fight, a coalition of philanthropic foundations, veteran-oriented non-profits and corporations that are pooling resources in a nationwide, concerted effort to cut veteran suicide rates in half by 2030. This Military.com article explains more about the initiative, including insight from Katy Dondanville, PsyD, who leads an external advisory committee of subject-matter experts. Dr. Dondanville is associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and director of the STRONG STAR Training Initiative.

Coalition's bold goal: Cut veteran suicide rate in half by 2030

A newly launched coalition has an ambitious goal of cutting the veteran suicide rate in half by 2030. Coalition leaders say the goal is aspirational, but he also said it’s achievable. This TND story includes interviews with Brandon Carter, president of USAA Life Insurance Co. and USAA executive sponsor for the "Face the Fight" initiative, and Katy Dondanville, PsyD, one of the experts who helped shape the initiative's strategy. Dr. Dondanville, a clinical psychologist and faculty member with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also serves as director of the STRONG STAR Training Initiative.

UT Health Science Center San Antonio joins USAA and Face the Fight™ to reduce veteran suicide

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (also referred to as UT Health San Antonio) is providing experts trained in military and veteran mental health to help San Antonio-based USAA launch Face the Fight™, a social impact initiative with an aspirational goal to cut the veteran suicide rate in half by 2030. Read on to learn more about this important effort and how it is being supported by Katy Dondanville, PsyD, and her team with the STRONG STAR Training Initiative.

Ambitious new campaign aims to reduce veteran suicide by half

ABC News story discusses the scourge of veteran suicides and a valiant new national effort led by USAA, called "Face the Fight," to raise awareness and support for veteran suicide prevention. The story includes expert comment by Dr. Katy Dondanville, a clinical psychologist and associate professor with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and research collaborator with the STRONG STAR Consortium. Dr. Dondanville and her team serve as academic medical advisers on this long-term initiative.

UT Kind: UTHSA psychologist’s heroic work with veterans is personal

As part of UT Kind – a newly launched series of short videos that spotlight inspiring students, faculty, staff and alumni from UT institutions -- The University of Texas System features STRONG STAR research therapist and co-investigator Tabatha Blount, PhD. Dr. Blount’s work with military members and veterans as a trauma-focused psychologist at UT Health San Antonio is personal. Raised in a military family and married to a serviceman, she is committed to helping those who serve overcome the challenges of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her passionate and impactful work with struggling service members and veterans recently earned Dr. Blount recognition as a “Health Care Hero” by the San Antonio Business Journal.

New Intensive Therapies Available to Treat Combat PTSD

Citing recent research led by Dr. Alan Peterson and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, this Giddy article describes what PTSD is, how common it is, and how intensive treatment with Prolonged Exposure therapy can help lead to recovery.

Podcast #26: Racial Stress and Trauma

Everyone responds to racism differently, and reactions can include anxiety, depression, and even PTSD. STRONG STAR collaborator Dr. Brittany Hall-Clark discusses racial stress and trauma and shares how to heal from trauma while living in a world where racism still exists. Learn about different types of treatment for race-based stress, and tools to empower you to cope.

Insomnia, Sleep Apnea. When Is It Time to Talk to A Doctor?

On this episode of 'Chronic', we talk about all things sleep with sleep expert Vincent Mysliwiec. Mysliwiec is a professor of research and the director of sleep medicine at the STRONG STAR research unit at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. His expertise is with sleep disorders experienced by those in the military. We talk about ways to combat insomnia and sleep apnea, painsomnia and the importance of quality sleep.

Patricia Resick Co-Authors Book on Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD

Congratulations to STRONG STAR collaborators and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) experts Patricia Resick, PhD (therapy developer), Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, and Stefanie LoSavio on their new book that aims to make front-line PTSD treatment available and accessible to all who need it. They recently published "Getting Unstuck from PTSD: Using Cognitive Processing Therapy to Guide Your Recovery," the first self-help workbook for CPT, a leading, evidence-based treatment for civilians and military/veterans with PTSD. Learn more and access the publisher's website in this news release by Duke University School of Medicine.

More gun control, no energy drinks: Military suicides are down, but experts say it’s not enough

STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, and other experts are quoted in this article reporting on a recent decline in military suicide numbers.

Suicide rates among veterans are 1.5 times higher than the general population

STRONG STAR Director Dr. Alan Peterson joined host David Martin Davies on Texas Public Radio's "The Source" to talk about veterans mental health issues, including the higher suicide rates among this population. As a hopeful part of the discussion, Dr. Peterson explained recent study findings by the consortium showing a major advancement in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, a signature psychological wound of war. Listen to the audio of that show here.

Study: Combat veterans can overcome PTSD in three weeks with intensive treatment

Military reporter Carson Frame with Texas Public Radio reports on our consortium's research findings that are a big step in combat-related-PTSD treatment.

Two Short-Term Exposure Therapies Linked to PTSD Reductions

Medscape reporter Eve Bender looks at Consortium to Alleviate PTSD study findings evaluating two condensed, outpatient formats of delivering Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy to service members and veterans with PTSD, one with full-time PE delivered daily for three weeks, and one in a similar format with eight therapeutic enhancements. Both formats led to clinically meaningful symptom improvement in about two-thirds of study participants and long-term remission of PTSD diagnosis in more than half.

Major headway made in treating combat-related PTSD

KSAT-12 News reporter Leigh Waldman interviews UT Health San Antonio investigators about Consortium to Alleviate PTSD study findings that show major strides in quickly and effectively treating combat-related PTSD.

Treatment for combat-related PTSD advances with method shown to be fast, effective

Consortium to Alleviate PTSD researchers report in JAMA Network Open that treatment for combat-related PTSD, which affects hundreds of thousands of U.S. military personnel and veterans, can be both fast and effective for a majority of patients. Their study showed clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms in over 60 percent of patients and long-term remission of diagnosis in more than 50 percent after three weeks of outpatient Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy. Study participants similarly showed significant improvements in related disability and daily functioning.

3-Week Program Effective in Helping to Ease Combat-Linked PTSD

Amy Norton with HealthDay News reports on a Consortium to Alleviate PTSD study published in JAMA Network Open. A short but intensive approach to "talk therapy" can help many combat veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new clinical trial has found, she writes. 

Can PTSD be cured? UT Health San Antonio psychologist says latest clinical trial is a breakthrough.

With study findings today showing that about two thirds of service members and veterans had significantly reduced symptoms and more than half maintained long-term remission of a PTSD diagnosis after 3 weeks of condensed treatment with Prolonged Exposure therapy, San Antonio Express-News reporter Sig Christenson discusses with lead investigator Alan Peterson whether combat-PTSD can be "cured."

San Antonio Combat PTSD conference shifts its focus toward preventing firearm injuries

Texas Public Radio military reporter Carson Frame discusses firearm safety with presenters at the 2022 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference. Day 2 keynote speaker Dr. Craig Bryan of Ohio State University explains why he and others consider the prevention of suicide by firearm as the "third rail" of suicide prevention, and the real potential to save lives. Dr. Ronald Stewart with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and University Health System explains how physical and psychological trauma are "two sides of the same coin" and emphasizes the need for a community-based approach to the problem of gun violence.

Military suicides could be prevented with better messaging on locking up guns, researcher says

San Antonio Express-News military reporter Sig Christenson highlights the Day 2 keynote address by Dr. Craig Bryan of Ohio State University as part of his coverage of the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference. Dr. Bryan's presentation focused on preventing suicide by firearm as the "third rail" of suicide prevention. He explained that the right message from the right person could go a long way in encouraging secure firearm storage, which in turn could go a long way in preventing death by suicide, especially among service members and veterans. 

Hundreds gather for the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference

KENS-5 reports on the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference and talks with STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson of UT Health San Antonio about how the annual gathering helps move science and clinical care forward for psychologically wounded war fighters.

Web-Based Provider Training for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Insomnia (CBT I)

In the web highlight, the DoD's Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs highlights the work of STRONG STAR and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD collaborating investigator Daniel Taylor, PhD, in the development of web-based provider training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia.

San Antonio conference focused on combat-related PTSD

News 4 San Antonio reporter Chelsea Torres reports on the upcoming San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference and the importance of this annual event sponsored by the STRONG STAR Consortium and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Can a stellate ganglion block enhance prolonged exposure for PTSD?

In this blog post for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the authors present recently published outcomes of a STRONG STAR-affiliated pilot study that showed the great potential for improving PTSD treatment outcomes by combining a stellate ganglion block with an evidence-based psychotherapy called Prolonged Exposure.

MHSRS Award Winner: STRONG STAR Consortium

The Military Health System created this video to celebrate the important work and research accomplishments of the STRONG STAR Consortium as it was honored Sept. 12, 2022, with a Team Award at the Military Health System Research Symposium.

Research Symposium Recognizes 2022 Award Recipients

Insomnia Alone Linked to Worsened Symptoms and Impairments Than OSA Alone in Military Personnel

This news article by Neurology Live shares findings by Dr. Vincent Mysliwiec and fellow STRONG STAR investigators on sleep problems and their impact among military service members.

Register now for San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, back in person for 2022

Sponsored by the STRONG STAR Consortium and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference returns to an in-person format for 2022. The event will be held Oct. 26-27 in downtown San Antonio at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Learn more about this year's exciting line-up of speakers and connect with the conference registration page through this UT Health San Antonio news release.

Innovative psychotherapy eases headache symptoms for Veterans with brain injuries

This newsletter article by the VA's Office of Research and Development describes the important work and findings of Dr. Don McGeary and his research team with the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD in the successful development and testing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Post-traumatic Headache. In a large randomized clinical trial with military veterans, the therapy was highly successful in reducing disability and improving quality of life for those living with chronic headaches after a brain injury; it also was as helpful as a leading treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in reducing symptoms of PTSD.

Diagnoses of moral injury are a growing part of Afghanistan legacy for US personnel

STRONG STAR investigator Brett Litz and director Alan Peterson share insights on what our war fighters may be experiencing near the anniversary of the evacuation from Afghanistan.

Interview with Dr. Don McGeary: Study shows success with cognitive behavioral therapy for post-traumatic headache in veterans

Listen here to a radio segment explaining groundbreaking study findings by the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD recently published in JAMA Neurology and an interview with lead investigator Dr. Don McGeary of The University of Texas Health Science Center. Cognitive behavioral therapy for post-traumatic headache, or headache that follows a brain injury, showed great success in reducing headache-related disability among military veterans, and it also was as effective for co-occurring symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a leading PTSD therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral, Processing Therapies Show Favorable Results in Comorbid Posttraumatic Headache, PTSD Symptoms

NeurologyLive published this story with findings from a study led by Donald McGeary, PhD, for the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD. The study found that cognitive behavioral therapy for post-traumatic headache, or headache that follows a brain injury, showed great success in reducing headache-related disability among military veterans, and also was as effective for co-occurring symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a leading PTSD therapy.

CBT may improve comorbid posttraumatic headache, PTSD

This news story by MDedge reports on findings by Consortium to Alleviate PTSD investigators on the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for post-traumatic headache in reducing headache-related disability and PTSD symptoms in military veterans with traumatic brain injury.

New therapy significantly reduces headache disability, post-traumatic stress after brain injury, study finds

The first therapy to be developed specifically for post-traumatic headache significantly reduced related disability in veterans following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It also reduced co-occurring symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comparably to a gold-standard PTSD treatment.

Moreover, the innovative treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Headache (CBTH), was appealing to patients, showing low drop-out rates, and is easy for therapists to learn and deliver, increasing its potential to be broadly disseminated and to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of service members and veterans.

Experts answer questions about sleep disorders and the health-related issues

STRONG STAR investigator and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio professor Vincent Mysliewic, MD, was part of an expert panel on Texas Public Radio’s “The Source” discussing sleep disorders and related health issues.

Written Exposure Therapy: An Efficient and Effective Treatment for PTSD

Denise M. Sloan, PhD, of the National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, writes about her STRONG STAR-affiliated study that found Written Exposure Therapy to be as effective as Cognitive Processing Therapy in treating PTSD, and with more patients completing treatment.

Fort Hood study shows writing therapy is highly effective treatment for PTSD

Texas Public Radio reported on a STRONG STAR-affiliated study finding that a brief PTSD therapy in which patients write about their trauma is as effective as a leading talk therapy.

Brief writing therapy effective as treatment for military members with PTSD, study shows

A brief, five-session treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) called Written Exposure Therapy is as effective as a longer, gold-standard treatment for military service members, a new study shows.

Equine Therapy: Horses Help Veterans Struggling With PTSD

UT Health San Antonio adjunct professor and STRONG STAR investigator Dr. Stephen Stern provided expert comment on this story about equine therapy for PTSD.

San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference accepting registrations, again goes virtual

UT Health San Antonio issued this news release announcing the opening of registration for the 2021 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference.

Sleep Disorders Are Skyrocketing Among US Military Personnel, Study Finds

Our investigators' findings showing a dramatic increase in insomnia and sleep apnea in the U.S. military are reported in this Military.com article

Military suicides in COVID era hit a new high

STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, ABPP, provides expert comment in this news story about in increase in military suicides during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dramatic increases seen in rates of insomnia, sleep apnea among U.S. military

Incidences of insomnia and sleep apnea have increased sharply across all branches of the U.S. military in recent years, our investigators found in a study published recently in a top-tier journal.

Combat Social Work

This news story highlights the work of Jeffrey Yarvis, PhD, who has joined the faculty at Texas A&M University – Central Texas, Department of Social Work, since his recent retirement as a U.S. Army colonel. Among other initiatives, Dr. Yarvis and colleagues have published a new book that shares the stories of military social workers serving in combat settings. Dr. Yarvis served for several years as the on-site principal investigator for several STRONG STAR and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD studies conducted at Fort Hood and continues to collaborate as a co-investigator with the consortia. The segment featuring Dr. Yarvis and STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, begins at 6:30:23 in this video link below.

Decreasing Aggression in Veterans with PTSD

Consortium to Alleviate PTSD investigator Shannon R. Miles’ pilot study testing a program called Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression with veterans who have posttraumatic stress disorder is highlighted in this article published by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.

Two-Day Therapy Retreat Helps Treat PTSD and Improve Relationships

Fifth annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference goes virtual, opens registration

Registration is open for the fifth annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, slated for Oct. 22-23, 2020. The conference will feature leaders in the field reporting advances in the assessment and treatment of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring conditions. Pre-conference continuing education and clinical training opportunities are also available.

Dr. Katherine Dondanville talks on Cognitive Processing Therapy and PTSD

STRONG STAR’s Katherine Dondanville, PsyD, discusses Cognitive Processing Therapy and posttraumatic stress disorder as a guest on the mental health-focused Sanity podcast.

New form of PTSD therapy could be game changer for military couples

This story by News 4 San Antonio reports highly positive findings from a Consortium to Alleviate PTSD study with military and veteran couples evaluating a therapy to treat PTSD and improve relationships. The therapy was delivered to couples in a group format during a 2-day retreat.

Study shows promise for two-day therapy that treats PTSD and improves relationships

Couples that include a partner with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may someday have access to a faster, more efficient therapy that treats the disorder and simultaneously improves their relationships.

Finding Love Again After PTSD: Intensive Group Couple Therapy for PTSD

Got PTSD? Try CPT How Cognitive Processing Therapy has changed the landscape of trauma care.

STRONG STAR principal investigator Patricia Resick, PhD, ABPP, is featured in this Psychology Today piece about the leading therapy for PTSD that she developed, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and her work with STRONG STAR.

San Antonio doctor leads development of new sleep disorder guidelines

San Antonio Express-News reporter Sig Christenson interviewed STRONG STAR collaborating researcher Dr. Vincent Mysliwiec for this story about new guidelines for treating sleep disorders, which he helped develop for the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. (Subscription may be required to read the full article.)

Doctor helps create first guideline to better sleep for military, veterans

STRONG STAR collaborating investigator Dr. Vincent Mysliwiec is interviewed in this story by KENS 5 on new guidelines for treating sleep disorders that he helped develop for the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

New Guidelines Address Management of Chronic Insomnia, OSA

Guidelines for treating chronic insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea developed for the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are detailed in this story by the Reuters Health news service. The article features an interview with STRONG STAR collaborating investigator Dr. Vincent Mysliwiec, who helped develop the guidelines and was lead author of a synopsis of them published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. (Site registration may be required to read the full article.)

Air Force suicides set a record in 2019

In this article about the increase in suicides in the U.S. Air Force, reporter Sig Christenson interviewed STRONG STAR and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD Director Alan Peterson and collaborator Craig Bryan for insight on this tragic and perplexing issue. (Full version of the story may only be available to subscribers of the newspaper)

Veterans Affected By Hurricane Harvey Can Get Free PTSD Treatment In San Antonio

Texas Public Radio produced this story about Project Remission, our program offering intensive outpatient PTSD therapy for Texas Gulf Coast veterans affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Veterans affected by Hurricane Harvey eligible for free PTSD treatment

Veterans in the Texas Gulf Coast area can receive a three-week, intensive-outpatient treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in San Antonio at no cost, thanks to a grant that pays for therapy, travel and lodging.

Training available for mental health providers serving veterans with PTSD

Training is now available for community mental health providers in the Texas Gulf Coast region who serve military veterans affected by Hurricane Harvey. The program provides training in evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This new opportunity is made possible through a grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation in partnership with the Qatar Harvey Fund.

Boeing grant provides low-cost training in combat PTSD therapies to mental health providers nationwide

A grant from Boeing Co. will fund scholarships for 200 community mental health providers nationwide to receive low-cost training in the top treatments for military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

SA Combat PTSD Conference Brings Results and Profiles of Resiliency

The “Profiles of Resiliency” keynote address of a retired U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps colonel and a woman who was one of the children she helped evacuate during “Operation Babylift” at the end of the Vietnam War, is featured in this Spectrum News report from the 2019 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference. The story also includes comments from STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson.

San Antonio en la lucha contra el PTSD

Univision 41 San Antonio spoke with STRONG STAR’s Jose Lara-Ruiz for this story from the 2019 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference.

Bob Woodruff Foundation supports 2019 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference as presenting sponsor

SAN ANTONIO (Sept. 16, 2019) – The nationally renowned Bob Woodruff Foundation, which invests in programs helping impacted veterans, service members and their families thrive, will provide major support for the 2019 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference as presenting sponsor of the Oct. 23-24 scientific meeting.

Presented by the UT Health San Antonio-led STRONG STAR Consortium and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD (CAP), the annual conference is the only nationwide gathering focused on the state of the science in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions. These invisible wounds of war affect hundreds of thousands of post-9/11 combat veterans.

San Antonio bases to pause as Air Force suicides rise

This story about U.S. Air Force efforts to reduce the incidence of suicide features expert comment from STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, and STRONG STAR collaborator Craig Bryan, PsyD.

Ten Sessions

Nationally distributed radio and podcast program “This American Life” offers rare insight into Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a leading evidence-based treatment for PTSD, with audio recordings that a patient made of the actual therapy sessions that helped alleviate her trauma from a sexual assault as a teen. CPT has been used in a number of studies conducted by STRONG STAR and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD.

An Epidemic And An Enigma

For a program focusing on the rising suicide rate and ways to address the problem, STRONG STAR suicide prevention expert Brooke Fina participated in a live panel discussion and took calls from listeners on Texas Public Radio’s “The Source.”

Informational campaign at JBSA-Randolph focuses on PTSD studies

A federally funded, multi-institutional research group focused on combat post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions in active-duty military members will soon conclude a month-long informational campaign at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

Supporting Veterans: Psychologist Discusses Veterans and Mental Health

In Focus Texas wraps up Mental Health Awareness Month with a closer look at mental illness among veterans. In the video, Dr. Don McGeary, a clinical psychologist who has experience treating service members and veterans on a variety of behavioral health issues, joins us on In Focus to talk about veterans and mental health.

Not Just For Soldiers: Civilians With PTSD Struggle To Find Effective Therapy

The STRONG STAR Training Initiative’s program for training community mental health providers in evidence-based therapies for PTSD is highlighted in this story about the nationwide shortage of therapists trained in those therapies. The story also quotes STRONG STAR principal investigator Edna Foa, as well as former STRONG STAR clinical research therapist Lindsay Bira.

Finding New Strength Against PTSD

Retired Army Colonel Don Gagliano, MD, knew something wasn't right after he came home from Iraq, where he had served as Medical Commander of the 30th Brigade. It took him a long time to seek treatment for PTSD. When he finally did, his doctor recommended Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), a cognitive-behavioral therapy shown to alleviate PTSD and its symptoms by helping patients confront traumatic memories they have been trying to avoid.

2018 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference Draws Record Attendance, Delivers a Powerful Program

San Antonio’s historic Pearl Stable was filled to capacity Oct. 23-24, 2018, as approximately 500 people from across the country gathered for the Third Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference.

STRONG STAR Training Initiative Working to Increase Veteran Access to Evidence-Based Treatments for PTSD

The Stress Points newsletter of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies highlights the efforts of the STRONG STAR Training Initiative to increase veteran access to evidence-based treatments for PTSD in this article.

Top Combat PTSD Experts in SA for Conference

Spectrum News reporter Alese Underwood interviews keynote speaker and author Dr. John Kerstetter and STRONG STAR/CAP Director Alan Peterson, PhD, in this story from the 2018 Combat PTSD Conference.

Open house event celebrates the partnership between STRONG STAR and CRDAMC, a key collaboration in furthering the treatment of PTSD

This article from the website of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs focuses on the important research that STRONG STAR and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD are conducting with active duty military personnel at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood.

Effect of Prolonged Exposure Therapy on PTSD Symptom Severity in Military Personnel

Learn about Dr. Edna Foa’s STRONG STAR research with active duty military personnel being treated for posttraumatic stress disorder with Prolonged Exposure therapy in this article published by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs of the U.S. Department of Defense.

BioMed SA to recognize pioneers in military health care and beyond

STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, selected for 2018 Award for Innovation in Healthcare and Bioscience from BioMed SA, an organization formed to support the biosciences industry in San Antonio.

The STRONG STAR Training Initiative with Brooke Fina

Duane France interviews Brooke Fina about her work with STRONG STAR, the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, and the STRONG STAR Training Initiative for this podcast.

STRONG STAR’s Brooke Fina interviewed on “In Focus” program

Brooke Fina, a STRONG STAR investigator and UT Health San Antonio associate professor, talks about proven PTSD therapy treatment programs for those who’ve served.

SA researchers studying new PTSD treatment, improvements in depression treatment

SAN ANTONIO — A groundbreaking study going on in San Antonio right now just might lead to the widespread use of magnetic pulses to help treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Short-term PTSD treatment provides relief for half in Penn study at Texas army base

Former patient Frank Wood talks about how Prolonged Exposure therapy with STRONG STAR helped him, in this story. Also interviewed is the University of Pennsylvania’s Edna Foa, PhD, principal investigator of a STRONG STAR PTSD treatment study with active-duty military personnel at Fort Hood.

Local doctors find potential cure for combat-related PTSD

In this story by News 4 reporter Emily Baucum, STRONG STAR Director Dr. Alan Peterson and former patient Dr. Don Gagliano talk about the treatment that was used in a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Trial seeks to help veterans recover from trauma

A STRONG STAR study at Fort Hood that produced important findings for the treatment of combat PTSD in active-duty military members is highlighted in this story.

Civilian PTSD treatment effective for troops

In this story, patient Frank Wood, the therapist who treated him at Fort Hood, Brooke Fina, and COL Jeffrey Yarvis, deputy commanding officer for the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center discuss the type of therapy used in a groundbreaking STRONG STAR study with active-duty military personnel with PTSD.

Fort Hood: New therapy could help those struggling with PTSD

Reporter Alex Cano tells the story of Retired Army Command Sergeant Major Frank Wood’s successful treatment for PTSD in a STRONG STAR study at Fort Hood in this report.

DoD expanding use of effective PTSD therapy

This story about STRONG STAR’s groundbreaking study of Prolonged Exposure therapy with active-duty military ran on the front page of the Killeen Daily Herald, as well as online.

PTSD study with roots in Texas proving effective for active duty military

This story about STRONG STAR’s research with active-duty military at Fort Hood, which was the first study of Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD with active-duty military, aired on Spectrum News in the San Antonio and Austin areas.

Mitch chats with Dr. Alan Peterson from UT Health San Antonio about PTSD

Dallas-based radio host Mitch Carr interviews STRONG STAR and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD Director Alan Peterson about Prolonged Exposure therapy in this podcast produced for News Radio KRLD and the Texas State Network. (Link to podcast no longer available.)

New PTSD study shows recovery for Fort Hood soldiers in just two weeks

A recent Fort Hood-based study holds hope for a speedy recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms — in as little as two weeks — for service members returning from combat. (Link to story no longer available.)

San Antonio Study Finds Effective Treatment for PTSD

News Radio 1200 WOAI did this story about STRONG STAR research study findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing that a leading civilian therapy for PTSD also can help active-duty military personnel.

San Antonio part of study finding speedier PTSD therapy

A STRONG STAR study that validated the effectiveness of Prolonged Exposure, a leading civilian therapy for PTSD, in active-duty military personnel is detailed in this article by the San Antonio Express-News.

UT Health San Antonio study finds effective, fast treatment for PTSD

Results of STRONG STAR’s study published in the Journal of the America Medical Association aired in this story on KSAT-TV, along with a print story on the station’s website.

Penn takes part in study of faster PTSD treatment for military personnel

Findings from a STRONG STAR study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association are featured in this story by Philadelphia media outlet Philly Voice.

UT Health San Antonio: PTSD Therapy Proves Effective in Shorter Format

The Rivard Report online news site published this story about the findings of a STRONG STAR study evaluating Prolonged Exposure therapy with active-duty military personnel.

Study Finds 2-Week Long Exposure Therapy Effective In Treating Combat PTSD

Texas Public Radio reporter Carson Frame did this story about important findings from a STRONG STAR study that were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). It was the first randomized clinical trial of prolonged exposure therapy with active-duty military. National Public Radio-affiliated Houston Public Media also used this story.

Top civilian PTSD treatment effective with active military in regular and shorter, two-week format

In its first-ever randomized clinical trial with an active-duty military population, Prolonged Exposure (PE), a top treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was found effective for combat PTSD. The therapy led to significant symptom reductions and a loss of PTSD diagnosis in nearly half of study participants, with treatment gains largely maintained over time.

How Important Are Dogs for the Mental Health of Recovering Veterans?

A STRONG STAR-affiliated study led by Dr. Stephen Stern is highlighted in this story by U.S. News & World Report about the positive impact that dogs can have on veterans with PTSD.

Studies explore race and ethnicity’s hidden impact on PTSD

STRONG STAR investigator Brittany Hall-Clark’s analysis of the impact of race and ethnicity on PTSD is the basis of this story published on the front page of the San Antonio Express-News.

Flashbacks, Nightmares, Anxiety: How Do We Identify and Treat PTSD?

Texas Public Radio’s “The Source” focused on PTSD for this program with guests including STRONG STAR and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD Director Alan Peterson and a former STRONG STAR study participant.

Research looks at new treatment for military personnel with PTSD

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Military deployment can be associated with increased risk of mental health problems for military service members and veterans as well as psychological distress in the spouses and children of the deployed, a risk that increases with longer deployment, according to research.

Ketamine: The Future of PTSD Treatment?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has a reputation for being difficult to treat, especially in active duty military and veteran populations. That may soon change,  according to research findings shared Wednesday at the 2017 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference.

Experts gather to battle combat-related PTSD

Spectrum News reported on the 2^nd Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference in this story.

Experts Tell Local PTSD Conference that Progress is Being Made

Reporter Jim Forsyth developed a radio news story for News/Talk WOAI 1200, as well as a commentary piece at the 2^nd Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference. (Link to story no longer available.)

Cutting edge PTSD treatment with immediate results

The 2^nd Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference is featured in this story by News 4 San Antonio that talks about the important research conducted by the STRONG STAR Consortium and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD.

Leading experts on combat PTSD gather in San Antonio to discuss treatment

The 2^nd Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference is featured in this story by KENS 5 San Antonio that talks about the research conducted by the STRONG STAR Consortium and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, the largest research network focused on posttraumatic stress disorder and related conditions. (Link to story no longer available.)

STRONG STAR study helping military patients with chronic insomnia

In this television interview, STRONG STAR and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD Director Alan Peterson talks about the findings of a STRONG STAR study in which a drug-free treatment for chronic insomnia was effective with active duty military personnel.

UT Health S.A. launches programs to help veterans, military caregivers

KENS-TV in San Antonio aired and published on its website a story about the STRONG STAR Training Initiative to provide training for veteran-serving mental health providers in the leading therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder. The program will improve access to care for veterans in the areas where they live. (Link to story no longer available.)

UNT hosting mental health training initiative next month

The Denton Record-Chronicle published a story about an upcoming workshop by the STRONG STAR Training Initiative at the University of North Texas. (Link to story no longer available.)

Study to test electromagnetic pulses to brain to treat PTSD

UNT study finds cognitive therapy helps soldiers with insomnia

The official student newspaper of the University of North Texas published a story based on the university’s news release about a STRONG STAR study that found cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia to be effective with active-duty military personnel. The study was led by University of North Texas professor Daniel Taylor.

UT Health To Train More Therapists To Treat PTSD

Texas Public Radio aired and published online this story about the STRONG STAR Training Initiative for training veteran-serving mental health providers around Texas and in 2018 nationally in evidence-based treatments for PTSD, which will improve access to treatment for veterans.

Study: Behavioral Therapy Improves Military Members’ Insomnia

A recent study out of UT Health San Antonio found that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is highly effective for active duty military members, proving beneficial for participants who engaged in treatment either in-person or online.

If you have insomnia, don’t sleep more, sleep efficiently, study on soldiers finds

A new study on sleep suggests the best way to cure insomnia is to get out of bed.

Initiative to train providers in top PTSD therapies

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major condition affecting the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of post-9/11 combat veterans. To meet this unmet need for PTSD treatment, UT Health San Antonio has launched an initiative to increase the number of community clinicians qualified to provide the leading therapies.

Finding Non-medication Therapy For Military Insomniacs

Insomnia is the number one complaint of service members returning from a deployment.

Video Visits for Insomnia Less Effective than Live Consults

The mHealth Intelligence newsite published a story about a STRONG STAR study that found a medication-free treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, to be effective with active-duty military, a population with a high rate of sleep disorders.

Web-Based CBT Can Help Military Personnel Manage Insomnia

The mental health-focused news site Psych Central published a story about a STRONG STAR study that found cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia to be effective with active-duty military personnel. (Link to story no longer available.)

Study shows insomnia in military can be treated without medications

Insomnia is a widespread problem in the U.S. military and the most commonly reported symptom following deployment. A new study published online in the journal Sleep found that cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia , a form of talk therapy, was highly effective with an active duty population.

For Military, Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Is Effective

Cognitive behavioral therapy, which traditionally includes regular, and often weekly, visits to a clinician, is recommended by the American College of Physicians and other organizations for treatment of chronic insomnia.

Online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is effective for military

The ScienceDaily research news site was among a number of sites publishing a news release about a STRONG STAR study documenting the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in active-duty military personnel.

Online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia effective for military

Health Medicine Network was among a number of sites publishing a news release about a STRONG STAR study documenting the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in active-duty military personnel.

Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Is Effective With Military

Science Newsline was among numerous online science and healthcare sites to publish stories about a study led by STRONG STAR investigator Daniel Taylor, PhD, which documented the efficacy of a medication-free treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, with active-duty military. (Link to story no longer available.)

Talking it Out

The Spring/Summer 2017 issue of UT Health San Antonio’s Mission magazine featured this story about a groundbreaking STRONG STAR study that was the largest clinical trial to date documenting an evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in active-duty military personnel.

Married San Antonio researchers take aim at helping veterans decrease use of opioids

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram picked up this story originally published March 24, 2017 in the San Antonio Express-News. It highlights the chronic pain management expertise of STRONG STAR researchers Don and Cindy McGeary. (Access to story requires paid subscription.)

Relationship between researchers led to new understanding of the nature of pain

This story by the San Antonio Express-News highlights the expertise of STRONG STAR researchers Don and Cindy McGeary in the field of chronic pain management. (Access to story requires paid subscription.)

Groundbreaking Fort Hood Study on PTSD Gives Hope for a Permanent Cure

PTSD treatment in a STRONG STAR study at Fort Hood helped Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Sean Brack get his life back. (Link to story no longer available.)

Talk therapy battles PTSD

This profile by the Lampasas Dispatch Record tells the story of how seeking help for his posttraumatic stress disorder helped Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Sean Brack recover. (Link to story no longer available.)

Groundbreaking PTSD study could lead to better treatment for soldiers

Reporter Jeremy Schwartz interviewed former PTSD patient Sean Brack, STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, and Principal Investigator Patricia Resick, PhD, for this story about a treatment study at Fort Hood with important findings that a leading civilian therapy also can help many active duty military service members suffering from posttraumatic stress. (Link to story no longer available.)

New study to test if writing can cure PTSD among S.A. service members

This story by the San Antonio Express-News focuses on a STRONG STAR study in San Antonio testing writing as therapy for military service members with combat PTSD. (Access to story requires paid subscription.)

PTSD research from Fort Hood focuses on emotional examination

The Waco Tribune-Herald published this story about a groundbreaking STRONG STAR PTSD treatment study at Fort Hood. (Access to story requires paid subscription.)

Understanding PTSD, Debunking Stigmas Key in Finding Cure

Bob Delaney, former New Jersey state police officer and NBA referee, spoke at Fort Sam Houston in December 2016 about his struggle with PTSD after going undercover and infiltrating the mafia in the 1990s. His visit was part of the Army’s Ready and Resilient Campaign to help improve individual and unit performance. In their leadership roles with both the STRONG STAR Consortium and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, Drs. Alan Peterson and Stacey Young-McCaughan attended the event. Dr. Peterson was asked by a Spectrum News reporter covering the story to provide expert comment about PTSD and resilience.

Duke study shows therapy effective for military sufferers of PTSD

The Raleigh, NC, News & Observer published this story based on findings from a STRONG STAR clinical trial that is the largest to evaluate a leading PTSD treatment with active-duty military members. (Access to story requires paid subscription.)

Pioneering Fort Hood study on PTSD treatment finds some healed

Findings from a groundbreaking STRONG STAR study evaluating Cognitive Processing Therapy with active duty military with combat PTSD are detailed in this story by the San Antonio Express-News. (Access to story requires paid subscription.)

New Study Shows Effective Therapy for PTSD

Texas Public Radio aired this story about important findings from a STRONG STAR clinical trial testing Cognitive Processing Therapy for active duty military members with combat PTSD, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

Local doctors make medical breakthrough in PTSD treatment

WOAI-TV’s story on findings from a major STRONG STAR clinical trial testing a leading civilian therapy with active duty military members with combat PTSD features on-camera interviews with STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson and former combat PTSD sufferer Hakim Mathis. The story also aired on sister station FOX 29.

Study results hold promise for quick, lasting treatment for PTSD

Findings published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, from a STRONG STAR study that was the largest clinical trial of a PTSD therapy with active duty military received coverage in Stars and Stripes, a newspaper providing news and information to the U.S. military community worldwide.

SA Researchers Publish Biggest PTSD Study Ever Done with Active-Duty Military

ABC News affiliate KSAT-TV produced this excellent report on important research findings from a STRONG STAR study at Fort Hood.

UT Health Science Center STRONG STAR

STRONG STAR’s Director Dr. Alan Peterson and clinical therapist Lindsay Bira joined “Focus on South Texas” host Erin Nichols for an in-depth interview about STRONG STAR and our PTSD research.

PEOPLE - Lindsay Bira, Ph.D. UT Health Science Center psychologist wants to help people overcome everyday anxieties

San Antonio Magazine featured STRONG STAR PTSD research therapist Lindsay Bira, PhD, in its November issue, previewing her Nov. 12 talk at the TEDx San Antonio summit affiliated with TED, a nonprofit that puts on events worldwide to share ideas.

Fighting PTSD: World’s largest research group based in S.A.

San Antonio’s CBS News affiliate KENS5 TV produced a piece that does a great job telling the story of STRONG STAR, the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have made the city a major center for research aimed at helping those with combat-related PTSD. (Link to story no longer available.)

Be mindful of veterans with PTSD during 4th of July weekend

STRONG STAR clinical therapist Lindsay Bira, PhD, shares insight on the topic of July 4^th holiday fireworks.

Women in combat, like men, at risk for PTSD

The Reuters news service contacted STRONG STAR and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD Director Dr. Alan Peterson for expert comment on this story about a newly published research study about women, combat, and PTSD.

The Doctor Is In: The power of exercise

This profile by KSAT-TV tells the story of Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD, Director of Research for STRONG STAR and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, who believes in the power of exercise to heal the body and mind.

San Antonio Home to PTSD Treatment Program

STRONG STAR Director Dr. Alan Peterson discusses national PTSD Awareness Month and our research in this story.

June is PTSD Awareness Month

STRONG STAR Director Dr. Alan Peterson discusses PTSD Awareness Month, PTSD, and our research programs in this live interview.

PTSD Awareness Month and Studies Being Conducted at Fort Hood

Dr. Katy Dondanville, STRONG STAR’s director of research and chief of psychology at Fort Hood, talks about PTSD Awareness Month, PTSD, and our studies at Fort Hood.

PTSD Awareness Day

Dr. Katy Dondanville, STRONG STAR’s director of research and chief of psychology at Fort Hood, talks about PTSD Awareness Month, PTSD, and our studies at Fort Hood. (Link to story no longer available.)

Strong Families Strong Forces: Helping Fort Hood families with the deployment cycle

Katy Dondanville, PsyD, director of research and chief of psychology at STRONG STAR’s Fort Hood site, talks about a new affiliated study testing a program for supporting families with young children at the Army post throughout the deployment cycle. Army spouse Jamie Anderson joins her for this interview. (Link to story no longer available.)

Special Feature: Running back from Hell

Runner’s World magazine is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year by re-publishing online “50 of the very best” articles that have appeared in the magazine. Among them is an updated version of a story Runner’s World published in 2014 about the STRONG STAR Consortium and a study we’re conducting at Fort Hood to find out if exercise enhances therapy for PTSD.

Those with multiple tours of war overseas struggle at home

The New York Times contacted STRONG STAR and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD Director Dr. Alan Peterson for expert comment in a story about the difficulties many combat veterans experience after returning to civilian life.

Predeployment riskiest time for military suicide attempts

The Health Day news service contacted Dr. Alan Peterson, director of the STRONG STAR Consortium and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, for expert comment on a study related to military suicides. (Link to story no longer available.)

Owning a dog may help veterans with PTSD

In a small randomized controlled trial of 19 veterans, those who adopted a dog from a local pet shelter had significantly greater relief from depression and loneliness than those put on a 3-month wait list (control), according to Stephen Stern, MD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, and colleagues.

Adopting a Dog May Help Veterans with PTSD

The American Psychiatric Association issued a news release to highlight a STRONG STAR-affiliated study presented at the APA’s 2016 Annual Meeting. (Link to story no longer available.)

PTSD: Fat hormone involved in risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder

The International Business Times quotes Dr. Alan Peterson, director of the STRONG STAR Consortium and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, in this story about a research study at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio finding that a hormone produced by fat cells may affect susceptibility to posttraumatic stress disorder.

PTSD linked to low levels of fat hormone

As director of the STRONG STAR Consortium and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, Dr. Alan Peterson provided expert comment for a story about research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio on the connection between a fat hormone and development of posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Source: Military suicides remain persistently high

“The Source,” a live interview program on Texas Public Radio in San Antonio, invited Dr. Alan Peterson, director of the STRONG STAR Consortium and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, to discuss the persistent problem of military suicides and to respond to questions from listeners who called in.

Grim toll of military suicides reaches a new milestone

Dr. Alan Peterson, director of the STRONG STAR Consortium and Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, is quoted in this story as an expert on efforts to reduce suicides among those who have served in the military post-9/11. (Access to article may require paid subscription.)

Outrunning PTSD -- A local researcher investigates the benefits of exercise in treating symptoms of PTSD

STRONG STAR Consortium coordinator and principal investigator Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD, discusses her research study with post-9/11 combat veterans at Fort Hood, Texas, exploring whether exercise can improve the outcome of PTSD treatment.

Psychologist: Headway made on treatments for PTSD

Alan Peterson, PhD, director of STRONG STAR and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, discusses blast injuries and progress being made in treatments for traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder in this story by Stars and Stripes.

Risk of death nearly doubled for Vietnam veterans with PTSD

Alan Peterson, PhD, director of STRONG STAR and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, is quoted as an expert on the effects of posttraumatic stress in this story about a new study finding that combat trauma experienced decades ago may still be affecting the health of many Vietnam War veterans.

PTSD, Emotional Scars from Iraq, Afghanistan Will Require Treatment for Decades

Researchers at the U.T. Health Science Center told the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States at their annual meeting underway in San Antonio that the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other emotional problems facing veterans of the Iraq and Afghan Wars will require care and treatment for decades, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports. (Link to story no longer available.)

Free PTSD treatment studies for veterans

STRONG STAR is the nation's leading research center where veterans struggling with PTSD can get the help they need for free. (Link to story no longer available.)

New Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Many post-9/11 combat veterans are returning home with posttraumatic stress disorder. Treatment available through research conducted by the STRONG STAR Consortium based at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has helped veterans like Nancy Dickinson. (Link to story no longer available.)

Mindfulness-based therapy eases veterans' PTSD symptoms

For a widely disseminated story based on a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Reuters contacted STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, for comment as an expert on PTSD therapies. (Link to story no longer available.)

Many Vietnam veterans have PTSD 40 years after war's end

Seeking comment on a study finding that PTSD still plagues many Vietnam veterans, the Reuters news service quoted STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, as an expert on PTSD in a story that was used by news organizations internationally. (Link to story no longer available.)

Battling PTSD with exercise

Avid runner Stacey Young-McCaughan, Ph.D., RN, administers research trials for the world's largest military-focused PTSD consortia while promoting the healthy benefits of physical activity.

National Guard Members Face Challenges in Seeking Help for PTSD

National Guard personnel are more likely than active troops to suffer from PTSD months after a deployment. And one of the challenges of PTSD is that symptoms of war can appear long after returning home, like they did with Darryl Davidson, a National Guard member who served in Iraq.

University case study shows 60 percent drop in soldier suicide attempts

A STRONG STAR-affiliated study recently provided hope in the effort to cure the national tragedy of military suicide. Soldiers at-risk for suicide who received short-term cognitive behavioral therapy were 60 percent less likely to attempt suicide than those who received standard treatment in military mental health clinics. (Link to story no longer available.)

The Fight Against Military Suicides

With more than a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. saw an incredible spike in the number of suicides in its active-duty servicemen and women as well as veterans. STRONG STAR Director Alan Peterson, PhD, was a guest on the progam "The Source" to discuss the work of the consortium to prevent suicide and ease posttraumatic stress disorder.

SA doctor's study shows decreased military suicide risk

Psychiatric diagnoses and suicide have skyrocketed among active duty military and veterans since 2001. A STRONG STAR-affiliated study recently reported that suicide decreased by 60 percent when individuals considered at-risk for suicide received a form of treatment called brief cognitive-behavioral therapy. (Link to story no longer available.)

Study Offers Hope in Preventing GI Suicides

STRONG STAR Consortium researchers were part of a breakthrough study finding that short-term cognitive behavioral therapy dramatically reduces suicide attempts among at-risk military personnel. The study found that soldiers receiving CBT were 60 percent less likely to make a suicide attempt during the 24-month follow-up than those receiving standard treatment. The results were published online on Feb. 13, 2015, by The American Journal of Psychiatry. The San Antonio Express-News interviewed STRONG STAR director Alan Peterson, PhD, ABPP, who was a co-investigator on the study. (Access to article may require paid subscription.)

Study finds that short-term psychological therapy dramatically reduces suicide attempts among at-risk soldiers

Short-term cognitive behavioral therapy dramatically reduces suicide attempts among at-risk military personnel, according to findings from a research study that included investigators from the STRONG STAR Consortium at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Local Treatment Hoping to Help Veterans with PTSD

The STRONG STAR PTSD Consortium at the UT Health Science Center is a world leader in research aimed at improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. A new study looks at ways to improve access to therapy by comparing traditional in-office treatment, with treatment delivered in the patient’s home either in-person or via video teleconference. (Link to story no longer available.)

Battling war's psychological wounds

Alan Peterson, Ph.D., ABPP, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, used his experience to build a world-class research network to improve prevention and treatment of combat-related PTSD. (Link to story no longer available.)

"Redeployment" by Phil Klay and the Responsibility of Wartime Storytelling

The STRONG STAR Consortium partnered with the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics and the Health Science Center Libraries to present Marine-turned-author Phil Klay on Thursday Oct. 30 at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.

UT Health Science Center San Antonio to study alternatives to pain medication for returning vets

Dr. Donald McGeary of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio will use a $2.78 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to launch a new STRONG STAR-affiliated research study investigating a novel treatment for veterans with chronic pain. The treatment involves an integrated program to improve physical function and decrease rates of opioid use among combat veterans with multiple injuries.

Federal research seeks alternatives to addictive opioids for veterans in pain

A STRONG STAR-affiliated study is part of a group of federally funded grants to explore nondrug approaches to managing pain and related health conditions among military personnel, veterans, and their families. The Washington Post reports on these grants, which include $2.78 million to Dr. Donald McGeary at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. His STRONG STAR-affiliated study will evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated program to improve physical function and decrease rates of opioid use among combat veterans with multiple injuries.

San Antonio PTSD study is first of its kind: Offers therapy delivered in patients' homes

San Antonio's ABC affiliate KSAT-12 reports on a STRONG STAR-affiliated study evaluating novel methods of delivering PTSD therapy to service members and veterans. The study compares traditional in-office treatment with therapy delivered in the home, either in person or via video teleconference similar to Skype. The goal is to maintain or even improve the quality of treatment while increasing access to care. (Link to story no longer available.)

The DoD partners with the VA to advance research on TBI and PTSD

This Web highlight posted by the Department of Defense (DoD) features the purpose and progress of two research consortia jointly funded in 2013 by the DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address the two most prominent health concerns affecting service members and veterans today: traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These consortia include the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC), which is focused on TBI, and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, which builds upon the infrastructure and programs already in place through STRONG STAR to create the largest PTSD research consortium in history.

UTSA, UT Health Science Center Present Inaugural SALSI Lecture Sept. 23

Alan Peterson, Ph.D, director of the STRONG STAR Consortium and director of the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD., will speak on the topic "It's All About the Blast: PTSD and TBI after Combat Blast Explosions" at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the John Peace Library on the University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus for the first lecture of the UTSA and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio's joint lecture series supported by the San Antonio Life Science Institute.

Making help for PTSD more accessible: New study to look at providing therapy in the home

Although therapies are available that could help many people with posttraumatic stress disorder, access to help can be complicated for active military and veterans. Alan Peterson, Ph.D, Director of the STRONG STAR PTSD Consortium at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, discusses with News 4 San Antonio anchor Randy Beamer a new research study evaluating the potential of delivering PTSD therapy in the home, with the goal of increasing access to care.

STRONG STAR Responds to Families of Fort Hood Shooting Victims

Working on post to implement research programs to help our psychologically wounded warriors, STRONG STAR staff at Fort Hood feel a special connection to troops stationed at "the Great Place" In fact, for Jamie Anderson, a STRONG STAR employee who also is a military spouse and a volunteer with 85^th Medical Detachment's Family Readiness Group, Fort Hood Soldiers are literally family. So when tragic shootings occurred on post on April 2, 2014, Anderson eagerly responded to the call to organize activities in support of the shooting victims' families, and her STRONG STAR colleagues wanted to do anything they could to assist. STRONG STAR's funding agency within the Department of Defense, the Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, shares the story in this program highlight.

Curing Invisible Wounds: Psychologist's military experience leads to national PTSD research networks

As an Air Force psychologist trying to help service members in Iraq with symptoms of posttraumatic stress, Dr. Alan Peterson began adapting the leading civilian treatments for PTSD for use in a deployed military setting. Little did he know he was laying the groundwork for two major research networks that would become the center for clinical trials to inform national guidelines on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of combat-related PTSD and related conditions among our service members and veterans.

White House Blog by Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD, on Being Honored as a "Champion of Change"

STRONG STAR's Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD, wrote this piece for the White House blog reflecting on her career and her work with STRONG STAR, following her recognition by the White House as a "Champion of Change."

White House honors STRONG STAR's Stacey Young-McCaughan as a Champion of Change

On Tuesday, March 25, Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD, was among 10 women veterans honored by the White House as "Champions of Change, " an award created to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. Several San Antonio media outlets honored their hometown hero with stories featuring her work with the STRONG STAR Consortium as it strives to improve understanding, preventions, and treatments for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and related conditions. Here is the story by the San Antonio Express-News.

San Antonio researcher honored by White House for PTSD work with military

On Tuesday, March 25, Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD, was among 10 women veterans honored by the White House as "Champions of Change, " an award created to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. Several San Antonio media outlets honored their hometown hero with stories featuring her work with the STRONG STAR Consortium as it strives to improve understanding, preventions, and treatments for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and related conditions. Here is the story by Texas Public Radio.

White House Video of Event Honoring STRONG STAR's Stacey Young-McCaughan as a Champion of Change

On Tuesday, March 25, STRONG STAR's Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD, was among 10 women veterans honored by the White House as "Champions of Change, " an award created to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. Here is the White House video stream of the event.

Health Science Center researcher earns White House honor

On Tuesday, March 25, Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD, was among 10 women veterans honored by the White House as "Champions of Change, " an award created to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. Several San Antonio media outlets honored their hometown hero with stories featuring her work with the STRONG STAR Consortium as it strives to improve understanding, preventions, and treatments for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and related conditions. Here is the story by the San Antonio Business Journal.

Running back from hell

PTSD is shattering the lives of thousands of American soldiers. But some experts believe running can counter the disorder’s debilitating symptoms—and help restore the joy that war erased. This in-depth report by Runner’s World looks at a STRONG STAR-affiliated study investigating this very topic.PTSD is shattering the lives of thousands of American soldiers. But some experts believe running can counter the disorder’s debilitating symptoms—and help restore the joy that war erased. This in-depth report by Runner’s World looks at a STRONG STAR-affiliated study investigating this very topic.

Study examines treatment for PTSD

With rising rates of posttraumatic stress disorder among those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, this Veterans Day feature looks at national efforts to treat PTSD effectively and how STRONG STAR research is guiding the way.

The Battle Against PTSD: San Antonio-based STRONG STAR research consortium is working to make PTSD a thing of the past for our nation's military members and veterans

San Antonio Magazine takes an in-depth look at the work of STRONG STAR and its potential to help service members and veterans with PTSD, as highlighted by the examples of two former study participants who have found a new lease on life. (Link to story no longer available.)

Lone Star State leads the way in national efforts to heal the invisible wounds of war

South-Central Texas is now the epicenter of national efforts to alleviate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions among military service members and veterans. This development was made possible by $45 million in funding recently awarded by the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the STRONG STAR Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, or STRONG STAR-CAP.

STRONG STAR work puts Dr. Alan Peterson on "The It List"

San Antonio Magazine recognizes "the people building buzz and leading the Alamo City in 10 different categories" with the publication of "The It List." The list includes Dr. Alan Peterson in the category of "Health" for his leadership of STRONG STAR and its trailblazing efforts to find the best ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat combat-related stress disorder and co-occurring conditions among our service members and veterans.

Consortia focus on PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury

FORT DETRICK, Md. (Aug. 26, 2013) -- The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development, will support two new multi-institutional consortia focused on translational and clinical research on post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic effects of mild traumatic brain injury.

Health Science Center to lead research consortium on PTSD

Researchers in the Alamo City will play a lead role in a collaborative effort to better understand, identify and treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, along with the V.A. National Center for PTSD, will lead a national research consortium.

The Source: Working For A PTSD Cure | Budget Cuts And The Library

Last year in the U.S. military there were more deaths from suicide than there were combat deaths. The sobering statistic came out despite the influx of money and coverage of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder amongst veterans for the past few years.  

Consortium Receives $45M to Research Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Using NGS, Mass Spec

Working for a PTSD Cure

Last year in the U.S. military there were more deaths from suicide than there were combat deaths. The sobering statistic came out despite the influx of money and coverage of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder amongst veterans for the past few years. Over the weekend the White House and the Department of Defense announced a significant investment in research for PTSD and the University of Texas Health Science Center will be leading a large part of the effort. Joining “The Source” to talk about this is Dr. Alan Peterson, director of STRONG STAR.

Obama Introduces New PTSD and Education Programs

ORLANDO, Fla. -- President Obama announced new research initiatives to combat post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injuries while also introducing a joint government-schools effort to help veterans succeed in college.

The Long Haul for New PTSD/TBI Research Projects

Health Science Center, V.A. National Center for PTSD to lead new research consortium

The U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have agreed to provide approximately $45 million over the next five years for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research.

DOD Awards UT Health Science Center $45 Million For Global PTSD Study

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has been chosen by the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration to lead post traumatic stress disorder studies of military members and veterans.

DoD, VA approve $45 million in the quest for a PTSD cure, fund STRONG STAR Consortium to Alleviate PTSD

In an unprecedented show of support for our nation’s wounded warriors, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have agreed to provide approximately $45 million over five years for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research to advance PTSD diagnosis, prevention and treatment for service members and veterans. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the VA National Center for PTSD lead the consortium, announced over the weekend by the White House and DoD and VA officials.

S.A. facilities to lead way on PTSD research

San Antonio will take center stage in the fight against one of the signature injuries of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — post-traumatic stress disorder.

Obama announces aid initiative to help wounded veterans

ORLANDO — President Obama on Saturday announced an initiative to help treat veterans with brain injuries and mental-health conditions, as he and first lady Michelle Obama paid tribute to disabled veterans before departing on their summer holiday.

Obama says backlog reduced in veterans' disability claims

Troops afflicted with PTSD, alcoholism

Dr. John Roache at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio is leading a one-of-a-kind study for veterans on the treatment of PTSD and alcoholism. News4 San Antonio tells more about the study, and a South Texas veteran shares his story of recovery. (Link to story no longer available.)

Life after trauma: Going back on duty a delicate process for officers involved in shootings

Going back to work after job-related trauma can be difficult for peace officers. In light of recent traumatic experiences involving peace officers in San Antonio, KENS-TV5 reached out to UT Health Science Center San Antonio faculty member, clinical psychologist, and STRONG STAR collaborator Dr. Donald McGeary to learn more about the type of support law enforcement officers need to help them cope effectively. (Link to story no longer available.)

Clinical Study to Determine PTSD Therapy's Effectiveness

Joint Base San Antonio medical facilities are partnering with STRONG STAR on an innovative research trial bringing cutting-edge PTSD treatment into the primary care setting. JBSA-Randolph describes the study and highlights its participation in the June 28, 2013, issue of its weekly newspaper, the Randolph Wingspread. (Link to story no longer available.)

Civilian PTSD Treatments for Active Duty

For PTSD Awareness Month, KCEN-TV highlights STRONG STAR PTSD treatment programs being offered at Ft. Hood and Central Texas. (Link to story no longer available.)

CDP Blog: An interview with Dr. Alan Peterson

Dr. Diana Dolan, a STRONG STAR collaborating investigator and deployment behavioral health psychologist with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP), sat down with STRONG STAR Consortium Director Dr. Alan Peterson to get a clinician’s perspective on the cutting-edge research underway with STRONG STAR and future directions of the newly funded STRONG STAR Consortium to Alleviate PTSD. Her interview is posted on the blog of the CDP, a STRONG STAR partnering organization.

New study to treat PTSD, alcoholism

It is common for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder to experience co-occurring problems with alcohol abuse as they seek ways to alleviate their PTSD symptoms. Dr. John Roache, a STRONG STAR investigator at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, is attempting to treat both conditions concurrently in one of the first research studies of its kind. Study findings are expected to help clinicians tailor treatment to best meet patient needs. (Link to story no longer available.)

Serving Those Who Serve: New Hope for PTSD Research Comes with Enterprising Doctoral Program in San Antonio

Read about STRONG STAR’s collaboration with a new doctoral program in San Antonio designed to train psychologists to provide the best available care to service members and veterans while helping the military and VA advance research on evidence-based treatments for PTSD.

STRONG STAR Insomnia Study Featured on "Fort Hood Spotlight"

"Fort Hood Spotlight" host Julia Connor sits down with Dr. Daniel Taylor, associate professor of psychology at the University of North Texas, to learn about his STRONG STAR-affiliated study at Fort Hood on the treatment of insomnia. The two discuss factors that can lead to or aggravate insomnia, particularly among service members who have deployed. Dr. Taylor also describes how a type of psychological treatment called "cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia" works and how it can have lasting benefits on sleep. He explains that his study is comparing the benefits of in-person versus Internet-based treatment, and what Fort Hood Soldiers can do if they are interested in study participation. 

STRONG STAR: A Beacon of Hope for Service Members with PTSD

For service members like U.S. Army Sgt. 1^st Class Sean Brack, STRONG STAR offers an opportunity to heal from the psychological wounds of war, maintain a productive military career, and restore the joy found in day-to-day family life. His powerful story of recovery is one that STRONG STAR investigators hope to recreate time and time again as they take the leading PTSD treatments from the civilian world, tailor and deliver them to our brave men and women in uniform, and evaluate their effectiveness with combat-related PTSD. 

Road to War Also the Path to Recovery: Faculty member's tour of duty leads to help for service members with PTSD

For Lt Col Alan Peterson, a 2004 tour of duty in Iraq as an Air Force psychologist highlighted why PTSD is a signature wound of the war on terror; showed that PTSD can be successfully treated in theater; and served as the inspiration for a world-class PTSD research consortium he would form after he retired from the military and joined the faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. 

Wal-Mart Therapy Tried as Pentagon Copes With Traumatized Troops

It’s been called by different names – and some suggest changing the name again – but posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to be a psychological wound of war for many of our troops. This Bloomberg article looks at this signature wound of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how the U.S. military is responding. Among the efforts highlighted is STRONG STAR, a PTSD research consortium funded by the Department of Defense, which is taking the leading civilian treatments for PTSD, tailoring them to meet the needs of our men and women in uniform, and evaluating their efficacy with combat-related PTSD. (Access to story requires paid subscription.)

Screening Soldiers for Propensity to PTSD

What makes some people for susceptible to PTSD and others resilient against it? This in-depth feature by the science news Web site Elements includes an interview with STRONG STAR investigator Douglas Williamson, PhD, about his study examining genetic and environmental influences on PTSD susceptibility. (Link to story no longer available.)

Military Matters: The Search for a PTSD Cure

Can PTSD be cured? Many people have doubts, but KCEN-TV news anchor Doug Currin talks with STRONG STAR Consortium Director, Dr. Alan Peterson, about ongoing studies with treatments that hold great promise for helping service members recover from the invisible wounds of war. (Link to story no longer available.)

Researcher Seeks Better Understanding of PTSD in Soldiers Returning from War

According to research, with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of veterans are left to suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. But a study is trying to get to the bottom of better understanding PTSD and how patients can be helped. (Link to story no longer available.)

PTSD Study Reaches Out to Fort Hood Soldiers

Thanks to new research, Fort Hood soldiers can get help for posttraumatic stress disorder and improve understanding of how best to treat PTSD among active duty service members. The research now underway is driven by a multidisciplinary partnership called STRONG STAR led by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. (Link to story no longer available.)

Stressed out rats help San Antonio scientists study PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder affects thousands of troops. Now, San Antonio scientists are using a new approach to find ways to help people suffering from this disabling problem, as they look at the biology of PTSD and the role that early life stressors play in its development. (Link to story no longer available.)

Studies at Fort Hood Target PTSD

A committee with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences visited Fort Hood Sept. 15-16 to learn about the post’s research on the treatment of PTSD, and they learned that STRONG STAR makes Fort Hood the top military installation in the country for this vital effort. (Link to story no longer available.)

Predicting the Psychological Wounds of War

A STRONG STAR study examining genetic and environmental influences on PTSD susceptibility is highlighted as one of several important ongoing efforts to identify and help service members at greatest risk.

STRONG STAR on "Fort Hood Spotlight"

STRONG STAR’s Director of Research at Fort Hood, Dr. Elisa Borah, sits down with "Fort Hood Spotlight" host Darryl Leonard to discuss how Fort Hood Soldiers can get help for PTSD through STRONG STAR. The interview includes information on how to tell if someone might have PTSD, the innovative treatment programs being offered on post through STRONG STAR research programs, and how to inquire about participation in one of these programs. 

Bioscience Breakthroughs: STRONG STAR Combats PTSD

Texas Public Radio’s KSTX 89.1 FM has developed "Bioscience Breakthroughs" as a special series of new segments highlighting innovations from San Antonio’s bioscience and medical community. The second series of "Bioscience Breakthroughs" was produced by TPR News Director David Martin Davies to air throughout the day from March 21 to April 1, 2011, and included a spotlight on March 28 on the breakthrough research being conducted by the STRONG STAR Multidisciplinary PTSD Research Consortium. (Link to story no longer available.)

STRONG STAR featured on "Fort Hood on Track"

Fort Hood on Track" host Angie Malone and STRONG STAR Consortium Director Dr. Alan Peterson discuss STRONG STAR, how it is working to prevent and treat combat-related PTSD, and the variety of studies being conducted at Fort Hood. The interview highlights how combat veterans at Fort Hood can benefit from STRONG STAR’s treatment studies and how they can get involved. 

STRONG STAR recruiting Soldiers for PTS studies; largest ever for Dept of Defense

STRONG STAR is launching a variety of studies at Fort Hood with the goal of defeating combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. This article by the Fort Hood Sentinel focuses particularly on two studies there that are delivering PTSD therapies that have shown to be effective with civilians and are now being evaluated for their success in helping military personnel recover from the psychological wounds of war.

The People Behind STRONG STAR's Mission: A Combat Veteran's Personal Struggle with PTSD

The DoD’s Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), which funds STRONG STAR, has called on “Consumer Reviewers,” or those personally affected by the psychological wounds of war, to help guide its research programs on psychological health and traumatic brain injury. In this video, combat veteran Richard Flores and his mother, Penny Flores, discuss his personal struggle with PTSD and TBI, and how it led them both to serve as consumer reviewers for CDMRP-funded research programs like STRONG STAR.

Dr. Edna P. Foa Video: Comparison of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Effects Using Prolonged Exposure Therapy

The Defense Department’s Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs has produced a series of videos highlighting the important work and potential impact of its funded research projects, including three of the STRONG STAR studies funded through the CDMRP’s Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program. Here is an interview with Dr. Edna Foa, the developer of Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE), discussing her treatment study using PE.

Dr. Patricia A. Resick Video: Comparison of Cognitive Processing Therapy in the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Defense Department’s Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs produced video interviews with STRONG STAR researchers discussing how their studies are expected to help service members and veterans with PTSD. Here is an interview with Dr. Patricia Resick, developer of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), talking about her treatment study using  CPT.

Dr. Brett Litz Video: Adjustment and Adaptation of Operational Stress in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Defense Department’s Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs has produced a series of videos highlighting the important work and potential impact of its funded research projects, including three of the STRONG STAR studies funded through the CDMRP’s Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program. Here is an interview with Dr. Brett Litz highlighting the vital work of the Assessment Core and the entire STRONG STAR Consortium.

Fort Hood Soldiers Wanted for PTSD Study

This news article by the Fort Hood Herald, a publication of the Killeen Daily Herald, highlights two PTSD treatment studies being launched at Fort Hood by the STRONG STAR Consortium. One features Prolonged Exposure; the other features Cognitive Processing Therapy. Both studies are delivering therapies that have proven highly effective in treating civilians with PTSD and now are evaluating the therapies’ efficacy in treating combat-related PTSD, as well as the treatment delivery method that is best suited to active-duty military personnel. (Link to article no longer available.)

Psychologist Craig Bryan: Treating Vets for PTSD

Craig J. Bryan, PhD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, who studies suicidal behaviors and prevention strategies, serves as a co-investigator with STRONG STAR and an advisor to the Department of Defense on PTSD and suicide prevention and treatment research. In this interview with NPR’s “Fresh Air,” he discusses the relationship between PTSD and suicidality and challenges faced by the military in helping troops deal with combat stress.

Researcher Explores Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Active-Duty Military Personnel

The Killeen Daily Herald speaks with Daniel Taylor, PhD, of the University of North Texas, who leads a DoD-funded study on the delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy to treat insomnia in active-duty military personnel. Dr. Taylor is working collaboratively with STRONG STAR on this important study since PTSD and insomnia commonly co-occur. (Link to story no longer available.)

Treatment of Active Duty Military with PTSD in Primary Care: PTSD-PC Program Early Findings

Research highlights by the CDMRP include a feature on a STRONG STAR pilot study headed by Lt Col Jeffrey Cigrang. Aimed at improving access to and reducing stigma often associated with PTSD treatment in the mental health setting, this program delivers therapy in the primary care environment.

The 2010 TIME 100: Edna Foa

TIME Magazine names Edna Foa, PhD, director of the Center for the Study and Treatment of Anxiety Disorder at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading researcher with the STRONG STAR Consortium, to the 2010 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

TAMEST Members Discuss Ways to Improve Military Healthcare

The annual meeting of The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas focused on advances in military health care. TPR news coverage of the event includes comments from leading experts, including STRONG STAR Consortium Director Dr. Alan Peterson. (Link to story no longer available.)

Mental Health Experts Mobilize Against Troops' Trauma

In its coverage of the 2009 annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, USA Today speaks with mental health experts who work with troops back from deployment—including STRONG STAR investigators Alan Peterson and David Riggs— about the latest efforts to treat PTSD.

Combating PTSD and TBI

This news article outlines the toll that PTSD has taken on combat veterans and describes how STRONG STAR investigators are working to develop and test treatment therapies that are effective and feasible for members of the military. (Link to story no longer available.)

New Approach to PTSD Offers Service Members Greater Privacy, Reduced Stigma

Service members seeking help for deployment-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder now have the option of being treated through primary care channels, thanks to a new pilot program offered at Wilford Hall Medical Center and other San Antonio locations through the STRONG STAR Multidisciplinary PTSD Research Consortium. The primary goal of this new research program is to offer effective therapy for PTSD within the primary care environment, where service members are likely to feel more comfortable seeking mental health assistance. (Link to story no longer available.)