Dr. Kip Presents Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) Results at Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS)

Kevin Kip, PhD, FAHA, Professor and Executive Director for Research Center at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, presented interim results of a randomized controlled trial of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) at the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) on August 15, 2012 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Dr. Kip’s ART study abstract, based exclusively on military personnel, was selected among over 600 presentation submissions. The interim results of this trial follow findings from an ART study among civilians and veterans that appeared in an on-line article published June 18, 2012 in the journal Behavioral Sciences.

In the current ongoing randomized controlled trial, ART is being compared to an Attention Control Regimen for veterans with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For this interim analysis of efficacy, veterans treated with ART had significantly greater reductions in symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and trauma-related guilt and distress compared to the Attention Control group. Similarly, 67 percent of veterans in the ART group experienced clinically meaningful improvements in symptoms of PTSD compared to just 7 percent in the control group.

“Based on the very encouraging results observed to date with the use of ART, multiple future studies are being designed and pursued including a head-to-head randomized controlled trial of ART versus Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, which is a first-line evidence-based therapy advocated and routinely used by clinicians at the Veterans Administration for treatment of PTSD,” Dr. Kip said.

ART is one of the five sub-studies of the USF College of Nursing’s Research to Rehabilitate/Restore the Lives of Veterans, Service Members and their Families grant funded and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) at Fort Detrick, MD.

-RESTORE LIVES –

Through ‘RESTORE LIVES: Education and Research to Rehabilitate and Restore the Lives of Veterans, Service Members, and their Families,’ USF College of Nursing faculty develop life enhancing treatments through nursing research, and educate nurses with the knowledge and skills specific to the needs of the military, veterans, and their families. The Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an example of type of innovative research that the USF College of Nursing is developing to improve the health of our honored service members and veterans.