Examination of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment System as a Measure of Disability Severity Among Veterans Receiving Cognitive Processing Therapy

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is effective for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among military veterans. However, studies have not examined whether CPT is associated with reductions in disability severity. The current study examines the association between disability severity and PTSD and depression among U.S. veterans who are receiving CPT. Veterans completed measures at pre‐ and posttreatment and received CPT through a Veterans Affairs PTSD outpatient (n = 155) or residential (n = 177) program. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 was used to assess disability severity. The WHODAS 2.0 scores were positively correlated with clinician‐ and veteran‐rated PTSD and veteran‐rated depression at pre‐ and posttreatment (r = .22 to. 60). Compared with outpatients, veterans in residential treatment had worse scores on the WHODAS Mobility scale (ηp2 = .03), but on no other WHODAS 2.0 scales. Pre‐ to posttreatment reductions were found on all WHODAS 2.0 subscales (ηp2 = .03 to .15). Reductions in PTSD and depression were positively associated with improvements on the WHODAS 2.0 Summary scale and most subscales (r = .22 to. 52). Findings suggest that the WHODAS 2.0 is a promising disability severity measure for veterans in PTSD treatment. Findings also suggest that CPT may help veterans to achieve reductions in disability severity. Resumen Spanish s by the Asociación Chilena de Estrés Traumático (ACET) Evaluación del WHODAS 2.0 como medida de la gravedad de la discapacidad entre los veteranos que reciben terapia de procesamiento cognitivo WHODAS 2.0 Y DISCAPACIDAD ENTRE VETERANOS La terapia de procesamiento cognitiva (CPT) es eficaz para reducir el trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y la depresión entre los veteranos militares. Sin embargo, los estudios no han examinado si la CPT se asocia con reducciones en la gravedad de la discapacidad. El presente estudio examina la asociación entre la gravedad de la discapacidad, el TEPT y la depresión entre veteranos estadounidenses que están recibiendo CPT. Los veteranos completaron las medidas pre y post tratamiento y recibieron CPT a través de un programa para Asuntos Veteranos para TEPT, ambulatorio (n = 155) o residencial (n = 177). El Programa de Evaluación de la Discapacidad de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHODAS) 2.0 se utilizó para evaluar la gravedad de la discapacidad. Las puntuaciones de WHODAS 2.0 se correlacionaron positivamente con