Mothers Overcoming and Managing Stress

Hypotheses, Objectives and Aims:

The study is a randomized clinical trial comparing two stress management counseling interventions with a wait-list comparison condition to determine their efficacy in addressing behavioral, cognitive, affective, and interpersonal effects of PTSD that often occurs for persons living in adverse socioeconomic circumstances and in violent families and communities. One goal of the study is to reduce the severity of or produce remission from PTSD, in order to reduce impulsivity, aggression, dissociation, and isolation by high-risk or previously incarcerated women. The long-term goal, which will be assessed in subsequent studies over time is to reduce the likelihood of their or their children becoming involved in, or victimized by other persons' involvement in, illegal activities. Children will not be involved in the present study, only women who are the mothers of young children.

Aim #1: To test the efficacy of TARGET and PCT. TARGET (Frisman, L., Ford, J. D., Lin, H., Mallon, S., & Chang, R., 2008) and PCT (McDonagh A, Friedman M, McHugo G, Ford J, Sengupta A, Mueser K, Demment CC, Fournier D, Schnurr PP, Descamps M., 2005) have demonstrated efficacy in randomized trial studies, but have not been tested specifically with mothers of young children. The study will assess outcomes that are of potential importance not only for the well being of the participating women but for their ability to develop secure attachments with their child which are protective against exposure to violence, crime, and victimization and associated with positive psychosocial development by children. Outcome measures reflect self-regulatory capacities compromised by trauma that are essential for effective caregiving by adults.

Aim #2: To compare the efficacy of TARGET and PCT on theory-based differential outcomes. TARGET and PCT use similar but different therapeutic strategies. Each teaches skills for managing negative emotions and critical symptoms (e.g., inhibiting impulsivity). TARGET teaches a skill sequence for affect regulation and social/interoceptive information processing, while PCT teaches a skill sequence for recognizing and solving problems in relationships. We expect that TARGET and PCT will reduce stress-related avoidance and depression and enhance active coping with current stressors. TARGET should be superior to PCT in enhancing the ability to cope with trauma memories, stress reactivity, and anxiety, and therefore the ability to remain free from illegal activities or future or further involvement with criminal justice systems. PCT should be superior to TARGET in enhancing the participant's overall social adjustment.