Stability of positive treatment outcome and symptom relapse in post-traumatic stress disorder

Eighteen Vietnam combat veterans who had successfully completed a partial hospitalization PTSD treatment program were contacted for follow‐up at least 1 year following completion of treatment. The 10 veterans responding to the follow‐up survey had shown significant improvement in symptoms and distress level immediately following treatment on both self‐report and observer rating scales. On follow‐up, however, there had been significant self‐report symptom relapse, although the group maintained significant improvement over pretreatment levels of distress. Despite partial relapse, the veterans in this group continued to show improved functioning in terms of subsequent hospitalization and employment. Various causes of relapse following treatment of PTSD are briefly presented.