Mary E. Long

Publications

• 1.53

  Impact points

  The role of cognitions in imagery rescripting for posttraumatic nightmares.

  Mary E Long, Joanne L Davis, Justin R Springer, Jon D Elhai, Jamie L Rhudy, Ellen J Teng, B Christopher Frueh

  Journal of clinical psychology. 04/2011; 67(10):1008-16.

  Despite growing support for the use of imagery rescripting to treat posttraumatic nightmares (PTNMs), its underlying mechanisms have not been examined. This secondary data analysis piloted the proposal that modification of posttraumatic cognitions is a mechanism of change when using a manualized PTN... [more] Despite growing support for the use of imagery rescripting to treat posttraumatic nightmares (PTNMs), its underlying mechanisms have not been examined. This secondary data analysis piloted the proposal that modification of posttraumatic cognitions is a mechanism of change when using a manualized PTNM imagery rescripting intervention. Significant linear reductions in posttraumatic cognitions were observed from baseline through 6-month follow-up evaluations. Change in total negative cognitions was significantly correlated with change in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Initial amount of change in subscale scores also predicted the amount of distal change observed at the 6-month follow-up. These findings provide preliminary evidence that trauma-related cognitions may improve over time as a result of imagery rescripting.
• 2.34

  Impact points

  Does PTSD impair cognition beyond the effect of trauma?

  Salah U Qureshi, Mary E Long, Major R Bradshaw, Jeffrey M Pyne, Kathy M Magruder, Timothy Kimbrell, Teresa J Hudson, Ali Jawaid, Paul E Schulz, Mark E Kunik

  The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences. 01/2011; 23(1):16-28.

  This systematic review analyzed data from studies examining memory and cognitive function in subjects with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared with subjects exposed to trauma (but without PTSD). Based on analysis of 21 articles published in English from 1968 to 2009, the conclusion is tha... [more] This systematic review analyzed data from studies examining memory and cognitive function in subjects with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared with subjects exposed to trauma (but without PTSD). Based on analysis of 21 articles published in English from 1968 to 2009, the conclusion is that individuals with PTSD, particularly veterans, show signs of cognitive impairment when tested with neuropsychological instruments, more so than individuals exposed to trauma who do not have PTSD.
• 2.68

  Impact points

  Imagery rescripting and exposure group treatment of posttraumatic nightmares in Veterans with PTSD.

  Mary E Long, Mary E Hammons, Joanne L Davis, B Christopher Frueh, Myrna M Khan, Jon D Elhai, Ellen J Teng

  Journal of anxiety disorders. 01/2011; 25(4):531-5.

  This study details results of an open trial of a group psychological treatment for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic posttraumatic nightmares called "Imagery Rescripting and Exposure Therapy" (IRET). IRET is a variant of a successful imagery rescripting treatme... [more] This study details results of an open trial of a group psychological treatment for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic posttraumatic nightmares called "Imagery Rescripting and Exposure Therapy" (IRET). IRET is a variant of a successful imagery rescripting treatment for civilian trauma-related nightmares that was modified to address the needs of the Veteran population. Thirty-seven male U.S. Veterans with PTSD and nightmares attended 6 multicomponent group sessions. Findings indicated that the intervention significantly reduced frequency of nightmares and PTSD severity, as well as increased hours of sleep. Unlike the few open trials examining treatment of nightmares in Veterans, effect sizes in this study were similar to those that have been found in the civilian randomized controlled trial. These preliminary findings suggest that a nightmares treatment can be adapted to successfully reduce distress associated with combat Veterans' chronic nightmares. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
• 3.00

  Impact points

  An examination of the construct validity of posttraumatic stress disorder with veterans using a revised criterion set.

  Anouk L Grubaugh, Mary E Long, Jon D Elhai, B Christopher Frueh, Kathryn M Magruder

  Behaviour research and therapy. 09/2010; 48(9):909-14.

  Ongoing concerns exist in the literature regarding the construct of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how to best conceptualize and measure this disorder. We compared the traditional DSM-IV PTSD symptom criteria (i.e., symptoms from clusters B, C, and D) to a revised criterion set that omits ... [more] Ongoing concerns exist in the literature regarding the construct of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how to best conceptualize and measure this disorder. We compared the traditional DSM-IV PTSD symptom criteria (i.e., symptoms from clusters B, C, and D) to a revised criterion set that omits overlapping mood and other anxiety symptoms on PTSD prevalence, PTSD diagnostic caseness, associated psychiatric comorbidity, functional status, and structural validity using a cross-sectional, multi-site primary care sample of 747 veterans. After removing items theorized to overlap with mood and other anxiety disorders, PTSD prevalence was identical using both criterion sets (i.e., 12%). Overall, there were few statistically significant differences in PTSD caseness, associated psychiatric comorbidity, functional status, and structural validity across the two diagnostic criterion sets. These data provide further support that removing items that overlap with other psychiatric disorders does not significantly impact the prevalence of PTSD, its associated comorbidity and functional impairment, or its structural validity. Although the revised criterion set represents a more parsimonious model, the current study findings generally support the strong construct validity of PTSD. The implications of these study findings for research and clinical practice are discussed.
• 5.22

  Impact points

  Posttraumatic stress disorder and health-related quality of life in pension-seeking Canadian World War II and Korean War veterans.

  J Don Richardson, Mary E Long, David Pedlar, Jon D Elhai

  The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 08/2010; 71(8):1099-101.

• Multi-component treatment for posttraumatic nightmares in Vietnam veterans: two case studies.

  Jill Wanner, Mary E Long, Ellen J Teng

  Journal of psychiatric practice. 07/2010; 16(4):243-9.

  Posttraumatic nightmares (PTNMs) are trauma-related distressing dreams that cause a person to wake up. PTNMs can be a devastating addition to the clinical picture of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), because they can result in increased levels of PTSD symptoms and overall distress and decreased ... [more] Posttraumatic nightmares (PTNMs) are trauma-related distressing dreams that cause a person to wake up. PTNMs can be a devastating addition to the clinical picture of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), because they can result in increased levels of PTSD symptoms and overall distress and decreased sleep; they are also often resistant to typical PTSD treatments. While specialized treatments have been developed and empirically examined in the civilian population, these treatments have not been thoroughly explored with the Veteran population, despite the fact that 50%-88% of Vietnam Veterans experience chronic PTNMs. This article presents two case reports involving Vietnam Veterans. These reports describe the initial investigation of a variant of a treatment that has been successful in treating chronic PTNMs in the civilian population and has been modified to meet the needs of the Veteran population. Analyses revealed that both Veterans reported moderate reductions in sleep disturbances over the course of treatment, as well as clinically significant reductions in PTSD and depressive symptoms across assessments. These preliminary findings provide encouraging data that warrant further study. Limitations and future research are discussed.
• 1.53

  Impact points

  Therapist fidelity with an exposure-based treatment of PTSD in adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

  Mary E Long, Anouk L Grubaugh, Jon D Elhai, Karen J Cusack, Rebecca Knapp, B Christopher Frueh

  Journal of clinical psychology. 04/2010; 66(4):383-93.

  This study examined therapists' fidelity to a manualized, multicomponent cognitive-behavioral intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including exposure therapy, among public sector patients with a psychotic disorder. Independent raters assessed therapists' competence and adhe... [more] This study examined therapists' fidelity to a manualized, multicomponent cognitive-behavioral intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including exposure therapy, among public sector patients with a psychotic disorder. Independent raters assessed therapists' competence and adherence, rating 20% of randomly selected audio taped sessions (n=57 sessions, coded by two raters, with strong interrater agreement). Adherence ratings indicated that therapists complied well with the protocol, and competency ratings typically averaged "very good" or higher (6 on 7-point Likert scale). Findings suggest that therapists can effectively deliver a manualized cognitive-behavioral intervention for PTSD, with exposure therapy, to patients with severe mental illness without compromise to the structure of sessions and/or the therapeutic relationship.

• Posttraumatic stress disorder and health related quality of life among a sample of pension-seeking Canadian WWII and Korean Veterans

  J.D. Richardson, M.E. Long, M. Gagnon, D. Pedlar, J.D. Elhai

  Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 01/2010; 71(8):1099-1101.

• Posttraumatic stress disorder’s traumatic stressor criterion: History, controversy, and clinical and legal implications

  M.E. Long, Jon D Elhai

  Psychological Injury and the Law. 01/2009; 2(2):167-178.

• Imagery Rescripting in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder

  M.E. Long, R. Quevillon

  Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly. 01/2009; 23(1):67-76.
• 2.29

  Impact points

  Posttraumatic stress disorder and health-related quality of life among a sample of treatment- and pension-seeking deployed canadian forces peacekeeping veterans.

  J Don Richardson, Mary E Long, David Pedlar, Jon D Elhai

  Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie. 10/2008; 53(9):594-600.

  Objectives: To examine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in deployed Canadian Forces peacekeeping veterans, addressing associations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression severity. Methods: Participants (n = 125) were consecutive male veterans who were referred for a psyc... [more] Objectives: To examine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in deployed Canadian Forces peacekeeping veterans, addressing associations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression severity. Methods: Participants (n = 125) were consecutive male veterans who were referred for a psychiatric assessment. Instruments administered included the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, Short-Form-36 Health Survey, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Mental HRQOL was significantly lower for peacekeepers with, than without, PTSD. Using univariate analyses, PTSD and depression severity were each significantly negatively related to mental HRQOL. In sequential regression analyses controlling for age, we found that PTSD and depression severity significantly predicted both mental and physical HRQOL. Conclusions: Veterans with PTSD have significant impairments in mental and physical HRQOL. This information is useful for clinicians and Veterans Affairs administrators working with the newer generation of veterans, as it stresses the importance of including measures of quality of life in the psychiatric evaluation of veterans to better address their rehabilitation needs.
• 2.68

  Impact points

  Differences in posttraumatic stress disorder diagnostic rates and symptom severity between Criterion A1 and non-Criterion A1 stressors.

  Mary E Long, Jon D Elhai, Amy Schweinle, Matt J Gray, Anouk L Grubaugh, B Christopher Frueh

  Journal of anxiety disorders. 02/2008;

  This study addresses the ongoing controversy regarding the definition of DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder's (PTSD) traumatic stressor criterion (A1). A sample of 119 college students completed the PTSD Symptom Scale separately in relation to both Criterion A1 and non-Criterion A1 stressful e... [more] This study addresses the ongoing controversy regarding the definition of DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder's (PTSD) traumatic stressor criterion (A1). A sample of 119 college students completed the PTSD Symptom Scale separately in relation to both Criterion A1 and non-Criterion A1 stressful events, using a mixed between-groups (administration order) and within-subjects (stressor type) design. Contrary to what was expected, analyses revealed that non-Criterion A1 events were associated with greater likelihood of "probable" PTSD diagnoses and a greater PTSD symptom frequency than Criterion A1 events. Symptom frequency relationships, however, were moderated by the order in which the measures were administered. The non-Criterion A1 PTSD scores were only higher when non-Criterion A1 measures were presented first in the administration order. Similar patterns of differences in PTSD scores between stressor types were also found across the three PTSD symptom criteria. Implications are discussed as to the ongoing controversy of the PTSD construct.

• Racial disparities in trauma exposure, psychiatric symptom patterns, and service use among female veterans in primary care clinics

  A.L. Grubaugh, D.M. Slagle, M.E. Long, B. C. Frueh, K.M. Magruder

  Women's Health Issues. 01/2008; 18(6):433-441.

• PTSD Symptom Scale-Self-Report

  M.E. Long, J. D. Elhai

  01/2008; John Wiley & Sons.
• 2.37

  Impact points

  Psychological distress among American Red Cross disaster workers responding to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

  Mary E Long, David L Meyer, Gerard A Jacobs

  Psychiatry research. 02/2007; 149(1-3):303-8.

  This study investigated American Red Cross disaster workers' symptoms of distress and posttraumatic stress resulting from exposure to disaster stimuli during their response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. A sample of 3055 Red Cross disaster workers was surveyed 1 year after the terr... [more] This study investigated American Red Cross disaster workers' symptoms of distress and posttraumatic stress resulting from exposure to disaster stimuli during their response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. A sample of 3055 Red Cross disaster workers was surveyed 1 year after the terrorist attacks regarding demographic characteristics, function during the response, and exposure to disaster stimuli. Participants were grouped by function and self-reported exposure, with the hypothesis that workers in Direct Services and/or those reporting to be directly exposed to disaster stimuli would experience greater levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms and distress than workers in indirect services or reporting no exposure. Findings revealed that while there were significant differences between both Function and Exposure groups on dependent measures, the multivariate eta2 was very small for both and did not meet medium effect size criteria. The results indicated that workers directly exposed to disaster stimuli reported no more distress than those who were not directly exposed.

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• The role of cognitions in imagery rescripting for posttraumatic nightmares

  M. E. Long, J. L. Davis, J. Springer, J. D. Elhai, J. L. Rhudy, E. J. Teng, B. C. Frueh

  Journal of Clinical Psychology.