Evaluating Treatments for Suicidal Veterans With PTSD

Standard Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), including DBT individual therapy (1 hour/week), DBT group skills training (2 hours/week), between-session coaching (as needed during business hours), and therapist consultation team (1-1.5 hours/week).

DBT PE is designed to be integrated into DBT to formally treat PTSD once patients meet standardized readiness criteria. The core procedures are in vivo and imaginal exposure with processing that are delivered in individual therapy sessions (1.5 hours/week).

Standard PE is delivered in individual therapy sessions (1.5 hours/week) and uses the core procedures of in vivo and imaginal exposure with processing.

Standard VA suicide risk management procedures, including comprehensive suicide risk assessment and safety planning.