Non-Inferiority Trial of Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy (TrIGR) for PTSD
Trauma-related guilt is common and impairing among trauma survivors, particularly among Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The investigators' work shows that a brief treatment targeting trauma-related guilt, Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy (TrIGR), can reduce guilt and PTSD and depression symptoms. Whether TrIGR is no less effective than longer, more resource heavy PTSD treatments disseminated by by VA, like cognitive processing therapy (CPT), is the next critical question that this study will seek to answer. 158 Veterans across two VA sites will be randomized to TrIGR or CPT to evaluate changes in PTSD, depression, guilt and shame symptoms across the two treatments.
• U.S. Veterans age 18 or older;
• meets diagnostic criteria for PTSD or subthreshold PTSD;
• a score of 2 or higher (true to extremely true) on feeling trauma-related guilt much or all of the time or scoring 3 or higher (very true or extremely true) on at least one guilt cognition factor (hindsight bias/responsibility, wrongdoing, or lack of justification) on the Trauma Related Guilt Inventor.
• not currently receiving trauma-focused treatment such as CPT or PE; and
• willingness to attend psychotherapy and assessment sessions.