The Effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on the Reduction of Brain-Behavioral Systems’ Sensitivity and Experiential Avoidance in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The purpose of the present study was to investigate effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy on the reduction of brain-behavioral systems Sensitveness and experimental avoidance of veterans with PTSD. The current study is a semi-experimental one with pretest-posttest design with control group, The statistical population of this study included all Veterans in Marand in the year of 2019, among which 30 were selected as veterans with PTSD who referred to pouyameher Counseling and Psychological Services Center. Were selected through purposive sampling method and randomaly assigned to two groups of experimental and control. The data were collected using a posttrumatic stress disorder checklist (military version), Behavioural inhibition and behavioural activation system scales (BIS/BAS) and acceptance and action questionnaire-II (AAQ). Then, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy were performed for 12 sessions (90 minutes in per session) each week for the experimental group. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 using multiple covariance analysis. After controlling the effects of pretest, the mean scores of behavioural inhibition and behavioural activation system and experiential avoidance were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (p<0.001). Training trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy education can be effective reduces brain-behavioral systems and experiential avoidance of veterans with PTSD. Therefore, the design and implementation of intervention based on this treatments can be useful in educating and promoting mental health in veterans with PTSD.