PTSD Family Coach
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Transcript of PTSD Family Coach
PTSD Family CoachApplication OverviewEric Kuhn, Ph.D.
VA National Center for PTNovember 22, 2013D
Application Development
Project Team• Julia E. Hoffman, Psy.D.1,3
• Eric Kuhn, Ph.D.1,2,4 • Laura H. Wald, Ph.D. 1
• Kelly M. Ramsey 1
• Josef I. Ruzek, Ph.D.1,4
1 VA National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder2 VA Sierra Pacific (VISN 21) Mental Illness Research,
Education, & Clinical Center3 DoD National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2)4 Stanford University School of Medicine (affiliated)
Subject Matter Experts• Steven L. Sayers, Ph.D.• Katherine Iverson, Ph.D.• C. Perry Bosmajian, Ph.D.• Shirley Glynn, Ph.D.
5 VA Puget Sound Health Care System, MIRECC 6 University of Washington, School of Medicine7Durham VA Medical Center, MIRECC8 Duke University School of Medicine9 VHA Office of Clinical Public Health
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Need for PTSD Family Coach
• Involvement of family members/loved ones is critical to treatment of someone with mental illness (e.g., Dausch et al., 2012)
• PTSD symptoms such as anger, violence, numbing, and avoidance may negatively impact close relationships, including those with spouses and children (e.g., Galovski & Lyons, 2004; Sayers, 2011; Sayers, Farrow, Ross, & Oslin, 2009)
• Family members and friends of someone with PTSD may experience distress as result of their interactions with that person (e.g., Dekel & Monson, 2010)
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Promise of PTSD Family Coach Mobile Phone Intervention
• Accessibleo 56% of adults in the U.S. have smartphones (Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2013)
• Evidence based featureso Content developed by PTSD subject matter experts
• Conveniento Can be used anytime & anywhereo Can be personalized with user’s own photos, music, & contacts
• Discreeto Can be used in public spaces without drawing attention/notice
• Cost-effectiveo App is free
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PTSD Family Coach Overview• PTSD Family Coach is a mobile phone
application for people who have a loved one with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• This application provides:o education about PTSDo a self-assessment toolo portable skills to address acute symptomso direct connection to crisis support o information about treatment aimed at guiding those
who could benefit into care• Can be used as a stand-alone tool or to augment
face-to-face care with a healthcare professional • Due to the application’s portability, these tools are
easily accessible when they are needed most5
PTSD Family Coach: 4 Main Components
• From the Home screen users can choose to:
o Learn
o Self Assess
o Get Support
o Manage Stress
• Personalize button can be used to customize app with user’s own photos, music, support contacts, & safety plan
• The “?” button provides info about the app development team
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(1) Learn About PTSDProvides user with information derived from PTSD experts about the following topics:
• PTSD Basicso Symptomology, treatment, ways to support a
loved one with PTSD• Self-Care
o Overview of challenges that family members or friends may experience if a loved one has PTSD
• Family Careo Impact of PTSD on children & parenting tipso Impact of PTSD on intimate partner
relationships, communication tips, & addressing concerns about IPV
• Getting Treatmento Communication tips for encouraging treatment,
types of treatment providers, counseling options, & overcoming barriers to seeking care
(1) Learn about PTSD - Basics
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(1) Learn about PTSD: Family Care
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(2) Self-Assessment
• Monitor distress levelso 10-item Perceived Stress Scale
(PSS; Cohen, Kamarck, Mermelstein, 1983; Cohen & Williamson, 1988)
o Item about stress related to loved one with PTSD
o Item about perception of safety around loved one with PTSD
• Track & view stress history over time
• Schedule future assessments
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(2) Self-Assessment Examples
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(3) Get Support
Users can locate resources for:• Immediate services in
emergency situations• Loved ones with PTSD• Children or family
members affected by PTSD
• Veterans & Service Members
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(3) Get Support - Examples
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(4) Manage Stress
• Identify problem areas & severity of distress related to:o General stresso Isolation/Lonelinesso Anger/irritationo Sleeplessnesso Parenting challengeso Safety concerns
• Immediately access specific tools for coping
• Determine preferred tools • Thumbs up – Tool is saved to “Favorites” List
• Thumbs down – Tool is not suggested again 14
(4) Manage Stress - Process
• User selects symptom area• User rates distress on 0 to 10
thermometer scale• Depending on problem & severity,
user is routed to any of a number of cognitive-behavioral skills
• After completing tool, user re-rates distress
• User receives feedback on score• Option to give thumbs up/down
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(4) Manage Stress – Process Example
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Users can determine which tools they like
(4) Manage Stress – Toolkit
• All tools are based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and are empirically supported
• Tools include:o Activity planningo Motivational messageso Mindfulness exerciseso Positive imageryo Reframing techniqueso Relaxation exerciseso Sleep hygiene tipso Time outs
• Also includes option to create personalized safety plans if user has safety concerns
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(4) Manage Stress – Toolkit Examples
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(4) Manage Stress – Toolkit Personalization
• User can add personal photos, music, and contacts into the app for customized distress support
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(4) Manage Stress – Personalized Safety Plan
User can:• Access info
about safety plans
• Create a customized safety plan
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(4) Manage Stress – Safety Planning
User can:• Access info about safety plans, such as:
o Who to contacto What to pack if leaving is necessaryo Where to go
• Create a customized safety plano Specific contactso Safe locations in the homeo Safe locations outside the home
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(4) Manage Stress – Safety Plan Access (3 Locations)
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(4) Manage Stress – Customize Safety Plans
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Tool Preference Removal
• All tool preferences can be removed
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Clearing All App Data
• All data can be cleared from the app– Helps protects
security of user– Allows for
multiple users
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