Treatment adherence: An examination of why OEF/OIF/OND veterans discontinue inpatient PTSD treatment

AbstractTreatment noncompletion is common among Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) veterans obtaining treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study examined causes of inpatient PTSD evidence-based treatment (EBT) discontinuation among 69 male OEF/OIF/OND veterans. Findings revealed a number of factors leading to noncompletion, including inpatient environment, EBT content, family obligations, medication use concerns, rule violations, treatment noncooperation, psychotic symptoms, and decompensation in functioning. Overall, these findings reveal clinically relevant causes of inpatient EBT discontinuation that may contribute to a shorter duration of treatment and potentially less beneficial clinical outcomes.