Is Behavioral Activation Effective for PTSD?

Although trauma-focused psychotherapies have the greatest efficacy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), some non–trauma-focused psychotherapies (e.g., interpersonal psychotherapy) also show effectiveness and are a welcome option for the many individuals with PTSD who do not want to directly confront their traumatic experiences. In a randomized controlled trial conducted within the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system, researchers tested the benefits of an 8-session behavioral activation (BA) program (originally proven effective for depression) in 80 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts who had PTSD (comorbid depression, 68%). The comparison treatment was usual VA care, including state-of-the-art, trauma-focused therap…