# Improving Veteran Adherence to Treatment for PTSD through Partnering with Families

> **NIH VA I01** · MINNEAPOLIS VA  MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · —

## Abstract

Impacts. This study aims to improve Veterans' adherence to evidence-based treatment for PTSD,
through increasing family support for treatment. Improving retention rates in evidence-based PTSD
treatment will positively impact Veterans' health and well-being, lower the cost of treating PTSD, and
decrease long-term demand for PTSD services. If effective, this approach could help resolve national
calls for routine inclusion of family involvement in PTSD treatment. Once demonstrated for PTSD,
these strategies could be utilized for other conditions and problems relevant to Veteran populations
(e.g., suicide prevention, TBI rehabilitation) and stimulate shifts across practice and policy to better
routine and evidence-based involvement of families in care.
Background. PTSD occurs in as many as 1 in 5 combat Veterans and is associated with a host of
negative, long-term consequences to the individual, their families, and society at large. Evidence-
based psychotherapies, such as Prolonged Exposure (PE), result in clinically significant symptom
relief for many. Yet, adherence to these treatments (i.e., session attendance and homework
compliance), which is vital to ensuring recovery, can be poor. Engaging families in Veterans' treatment
may provide a powerful method for promoting EBP adherence. Our data indicate that 70% of Veterans
express some interest in involving their family in their care for PTSD; yet, only 17% of providers have
had any contact with Veterans' families. The objective of the proposed study is to evaluate the
effectiveness of improving family support as a tool to improve Veterans' EBP adherence. This
research agenda directly addresses two VA HSR&D priorities: 1) innovative mental health care; 2)
improving the quality of life for Veterans and their caregivers. The work aligns with the VHA Blueprint
for Excellence and Strategic Plan through meeting the unique needs of military-service disabled
Veterans, providing a novel treatment approach, and emphasizing patient- and family-centered care.
Objectives/Aims. Aim 1: To improve Veterans' adherence to PE through engaging families in care.
 H1: Veterans randomized to family supported PE will attend more sessions (H1a) and report greater
 homework compliance (H1b) than Veterans randomized to standard PE delivered in routine care.
Aim 2: To improve the clinical outcomes of Veterans receiving PE through engaging families in care.
 H2: Family supported PE will be more effective than standard PE in reducing PTSD severity and
 comorbid problems (depression, quality of life, relationship functioning) from baseline to posttreatment.
Aim 3: To examine barriers/facilitators of implementing family support for PE.
Exploratory Aim: To identify mechanisms underlying adherence differences between treatment conditions.
 We will explore if adherence differences are mediated by changes on key social influence variables
 (family perceptions of treatment credibility, family support for PE, and family symptom accomm...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10197052
- **Project number:** 5I01HX002086-04
- **Recipient organization:** MINNEAPOLIS VA  MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Laura Meis
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10197052

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10197052, Improving Veteran Adherence to Treatment for PTSD through Partnering with Families (5I01HX002086-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10197052. Licensed CC0.

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