Reflect on Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

1. What was the purpose of the Monson, C. M., Fredman, S. J., Macdonald, A., Pukay-Martin, N. D., Resick, P. A., & Schnurr, P. P. (2012) study?

The purpose of the study was to further examine and compare cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with a wait-list condition (Monson, Fredman, Macdonald, Pukay-Martin, Resick, & Schnurr, 2012). The therapy that was chosen was described as focusing on couples where one partner has been diagnosed with PTSD. Cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy aimed at treating both the PTSD symptoms and enhancing relationship satisfaction (Monson et al., 2012). Monson et al. (2012) defined posttraumatic stress disorder as a condition that affects the well-being of the individual and creates intimate relationship problems. Intimate relationship factors have been shown to affect individual PTSD treatment outcomes, which is the reason that the researchers focus on this important study (Monson et al., 2012).

Monson et al. (2012) used randomized controlled trial method to explore this issue having heterosexual and same-sex couples with one partner meeting the criteria for PTSD. Couples who were randomly assigned to the intervention took part in 15-sessions of cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD (Monson et al., 2012).

The researchers used the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, identified patient and partner rated PTSD symptoms from 2008 to 2012 in a Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient hospital setting in Boston, Massachusetts, and a university-based research center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Monson et al., 2012). In addition, the study had participants evaluate their intimate relationship satisfaction, by assessing it with the Dyadic Adjustment ...

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...respond differently to the therapy (Monson et al., 2012). Therapies cannot just be applied from trials into practice without an in-depth exploration of how the treatment differs in effectiveness from one population to another.

Works Cited

Hannan, E. L. (2008). Randomized clinical trials and observational studies: Guidelines for assessing respective strengths and limitations. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 1(3), 211-217.

Monson, C. M., Fredman, S. J., Macdonald, A., Pukay-Martin, N. D., Resick, P. A., & Schnurr, P. P. (2012). Effect of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy for PTSD: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 308(7), 700-709.

Spring, B. (2007). Evidence-based practice in clinical psychology: What it is, why it matters; what you need to know. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63(7), 611-631.