Newswise — EVANSTON, IL - Research conducted at The Family Institute at Northwestern University detected clear interpersonal behavior differences between couples with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The study examined conflict behavior in a sample of 64 military couples. Compared to couples without PTSD, couples with PTSD displayed more interpersonal hostility and control; more sulking, blaming, and controlling behavior; and less affirming and connecting behavior.
“Results advance our understanding of the relational impacts of PTSD on military service members and their partners, and underscore the value of couple-based interventions for PTSD,” said the study’s principal investigator, Lynne Knobloch-Fedders, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and researcher at The Family Institute at Northwestern University.
This study was funded by the American Psychological Association’s Division 19 Research Grant Award given to Dr. Knobloch-Fedders. It was conducted in collaboration with investigators at the University of Utah, VA Puget Sound Health Care System and Washington University, and George Mason University. Results of the study are published in Behavior Therapy, the journal of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).
To speak with Dr. Lynne Knobloch-Fedders about this study or for more information about The Family Institute, please contact Cyndi Schu, Director of Public Relations, at cschu@family-institute or 312-609-5300, ext. 483.
ABOUT THE FAMILY INSTITUTE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY – The Family Institute at Northwestern University (www.family-institute.org) is committed to strengthening and healing families, couples and individuals from all walks of life through clinical service, education and research. An affiliate of Northwestern University, The Family Institute is a relationally based mental health system of care governed by its own independent Board of Directors and responsible for its own funding. The Institute offers a wide range of high quality mental health counseling through our staff practice and our sliding-fee scale Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, where we are committed to serving at-risk, under-resourced communities. The Family Institute also operates two nationally-renowned graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology in affiliation with Northwestern University, and conducts cutting-edge research projects that lead to a better understanding and treatment of mental health issues.
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