Evaluation of the Warrior Programme intervention among UK ex-service personnel

Abstract

Abstract Background Research has shown that of the myriad services available to veterans in the UK, very few have been independently evaluated. This report presents the results of a randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of Time Line Therapy™ delivered by the Warrior Programme (a third-sector organization). Aims This study was aimed to determine if the intervention is effective in reducing emotional and functional difficulties in ex-service personnel. Methods A mixed-design analysis of variance model was used to investigate whether the Warrior Programme had a statistically significant impact on self-reported scores. The intervention and control group provided data on measures prior to and immediately after the intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. Results Those in the intervention group (n = 23) reported statistically significant improvements in self-reported scores immediately following intervention: the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE) scores (CORE global distress mean difference [MD] = 45.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 31–60) (CORE subjective well-being MD = 5.9, 95% CI 3.5–8.3) (CORE functioning MD = 16.7, 95% CI 11.4–21.9) (CORE problems/symptoms MD = 19.4, 95% CI 13.1–25.7), general self-efficacy (MD = −9.8, 95% CI −13.6 to –6.8), anxiety (MD = 8.6, 95% CI 5.2–12.1), depression (MD = 10, 95% CI 6.6–13.5), post-traumatic stress disorder (MD = 26.3, 95% CI 17–25) and functional impairment (MD = 11.1, 95% CI 5.3–16.8) over time, compared to the control group (n = 29). However, score improvement was not sustained over time or statistically significant at follow-up. Conclusions The Warrior Programme was effective in reducing emotional and functional difficulties in ex-service personnel immediately after the intervention, but the effect was not sustained at 3-month follow-up.