Outcomes Evaluation for Uniformed Services Program

Introduction

Since the opening of the Brattleboro Retreat's Uniformed Services Program (USP) in August, 2009, our clinical staff has collected information to help evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Participants are asked to fill out clinical self report measures at the beginning and end of treatment. Their progress is also followed in the months after they leave the program.

USP Program Treatment Outcomes

Analysis of the surveys collected to date indicate:

  • Eighty-eight percent of participants reported a decrease in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following treatment.
  • The average decrease in symptoms of PTSD was 33 percent
  • Eighty-eight percent of participants reported a decrease in depression following treatment
  • The average decrease in depressive symptoms was 60 percent.


Processes that Work--During and After Treatment

The effectiveness of the USP program is centered on teaching individuals specific skills to enhance awareness and acceptance of the "here and now," to lower stress and to function in accordance with one's goals and values. Participants report statistically significant changes in four key areas of functioning targeted in the program:

  • Mindfulness--the ability to pay attention "in the moment" without judgment or reaction
  • Psychological Flexibility--the ability to pursue goals and adhere to values while in the presence of painful thoughts and feelings
  • Defusion--the ability to let go of distressing thoughts and to understand that they are temporary and do not have to be acted upon
  • Valued Living--the ability to act consistently in areas of life that the individual identifies as important.

These findings indicate the clinical processes built in to the Brattleboro Retreat's USP program are driving significant reductions in patient symptoms while increasing the perception that a more vital life is possible as a result of the skills learned in the program.