# Improving Psychosocial Functioning in Older Veterans with PTSD

> **NIH VA IK2** · VA BOSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM · 2022 · —

## Abstract

The purpose of this project is to develop an intervention to improve psychosocial functioning
and quality of life for older Veterans with partial and full PTSD. This project will develop,
implement, and evaluate a group protocol geared toward restoring older Veterans with PTSD to
better, fuller functioning. Data collected as part of the proposed project will be used as pilot data
(and to calculate effect size estimates) in support of a future clinical trial to evaluate the
effectiveness of the intervention. Specifically, the aims of the current study are to 1) Develop a
group-based intervention for older Veterans with PTSD that targets areas of psychosocial
functional impairment, 2) Conduct focus groups with older Veterans with PTSD and revise the
intervention after review of feedback provided by the expert panel and in the focus groups, 3)
Implement pilot groups, examine feasibility, acceptability, retention, and satisfaction, and revise
protocol as indicated, and 4) Implement and evaluate the intervention protocol through
comparison of the intervention with a support group control. Consult expert panel and finalize
intervention protocol.
 The intervention protocol will consist of 10 weekly 90-minute group sessions. Groups will
include 8-10 Veterans aged 60 and older with PTSD symptoms. After an initial protocol
development phase, two focus groups with older Veterans with PTSD will be conducted. Two
pilot groups will be conducted to examine feasibility and Veteran satisfaction with the
intervention. Three intervention and three support groups will be conducted to facilitate
comparison on primary and secondary outcomes such as psychosocial functioning, quality of
life, and PTSD and depressive symptoms. An expert panel of PTSD clinicians and researchers
will be consulted throughout this project to guide content development of the intervention and to
contribute to the revision of the intervention protocol.
 Advanced training and education is sought by Dr. Pless Kaiser to improve her knowledge
base in the following areas: 1) development of skills in the effective facilitation of focus groups
as well as group treatment with older adults, 2) enhance knowledge of clinical issues,
intervention development, and appropriate assessment measures and strategies relevant to
working with older Veterans, 3) improve her understanding of qualitative and quantitative
research methodology and data analysis and (4) further her knowledge of intervention outcome
research methodology and clinical trial research, in preparation for future investigations. The
combination of seminars, didactics, graduate-level courses, collaborations with mentors,
meetings, and directed readings proposed in this application will facilitate the applicant’s long-
term goal of becoming an independent VA investigator with a dual focus on furthering our
understanding between stress, aging, PTSD, and reactions to trauma as well as working to
develop additional interventions to improve quality o...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10489244
- **Project number:** 5IK2RX001832-06
- **Recipient organization:** VA BOSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Anica Pless Kaiser
- **Activity code:** IK2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-11-01 → 2022-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10489244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10489244, Improving Psychosocial Functioning in Older Veterans with PTSD (5IK2RX001832-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10489244. Licensed CC0.

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