Affect labeling: a promising new neuroscience-based approach to treating combat-related PTSD in veterans

Abstract

Introduction: A significant portion of individuals exposed to combat-related trauma will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a severe, debilitating disorder with adverse impacts on both mental and physical functioning. Current treatments are effective for many individuals, however, there is a need for new treatment approaches to improve outcomes in PTSD and address the many existing barriers to seeking or completing treatment.

Methods: In this open trial pilot study, we tested a novel, brief, computer-based intervention for PTSD utilizing "affect labeling" that was inspired by recent advances in neuroscience with U.S. veterans.

Results: As expected, pre-intervention clinical and fMRI neuroimaging data indicated that U.S. veterans with combat-related PTSD (N = 20) had significantly higher PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and amygdala reactivity to trauma cues than trauma-exposed healthy control veterans (N = 20). Veterans with PTSD who completed the affect labeling intervention (N = 13) evidenced reduced PTSD symptoms and these reductions were correlated with reductions in amygdala reactivity.

Discussion: Results from this initial proof-of-concept study are intriguing and suggest that affect labeling training offers significant potential as a novel, cost-effective, computer-based intervention for PTSD. Implications and next steps for further developing affect labeling interventions for PTSD are discussed.

Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT05924399.

Keywords: PTSD; affect labeling; amygdala; combat; inhibitory regulation; intervention; posttraumatic stress disorder; veterans.