DCoE Psychologists Share Insights at APA Convention

By Jayne Davis, DCoE Strategic Communications

Subject matter experts from Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) presented findings at the prestigious American Psychological Association (APA) annual convention Aug. 2-5 in Orlando, Fla. The international convention attracts upwards of 12,000 psychologists each year, with multiple concurrent symposiums, posters, invited addresses, plenary sessions and papers, allowing each psychologist to design their own program from more than 1,000 offerings. APA represents both civilian and military psychologists, and this year’s convention attracted psychologists from Canada, South America, Europe and Australia.

Dr. James Bender, DCoE clinical psychologist, and Dr. Mark Bates, clinical psychologist and DCoE Resilience and Prevention director, co-presented a workshop — "Advancing Skills for Brief Therapeutic Treatments to Address the Needs of Returning Combat Members" — with subject matter experts from the U.S. Army and Department of Veterans Affairs. Bender focused his remarks on traumatic brain injury (TBI), addressing the topics of specialty interventions and classifying and assessing TBI. Bates addressed techniques and benefits of the military-demand resource model for helping to build resilience.

In this multi-focused workshop, attendees also learned about military culture, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and treatment, effects of military service on family members and co-occurring PTSD and substance abuse disorders.

Bates also co-presented a separate workshop — “Military Psychology: The Life Cycle of a Military Service Member” — with senior military psychologists and the director of the Center for Deployment Psychology, a DCoE partner center. Bates and his colleagues focused on five key aspects of working with military members: military culture, deployment cycle stresses, evidence-based clinical practices, fitness and resilience practices and resources. The APA presented the workshop as its fourth annual Distinguished Workshop Series. Both workshops offered continuing education credits.

DCoE presenters remarked on the high value of participating in the convention:

"There are many civilian psychologists who are learning about the military and gaining the expertise needed to treat veterans effectively," said Bender. "The APA conference provides a prime opportunity to support their knowledge base and DCoE is uniquely positioned to aid this effort."

Dr. Greg Reger, clinical psychologist with the National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), a DCoE center, said, "The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have inspired innovation in the field of psychology that will have a broad impact on American psychological health care. Many researchers and clinicians are interested in the use of technology to support these goals. This convention provides a large platform for sharing knowledge on technology’s role in self-care and face-to-face treatment."

Reger presented a session on a new smartphone mobile application T2 designed called "PE Coach" designed to support using prolonged exposure therapy, an evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Large audiences attended symposiums on sleep disturbances among patients with TBI and alcohol abuse by patients with TBI. Dr. Vladimir Nacev, DCoE clinical psychologist, co-presented these topics with Dr. Dorothy Kaplan, licensed psychologist and subject matter expert, neuropsychology and TBI. In the sleep symposium, Kaplan stressed the importance of evaluating and treating sleep disturbances in patients with mild TBI with best available practices because sleep disturbance is so prevalent and persisting in that population.  "Good quality sleep positively impacts cognitive functioning," said Kaplan. "Sleep disturbance exacerbates other co-morbid conditions and may prolong concussion recovery. Behavioral stabilization of sleep decreases suicidal risk."

For both sessions, Nacev underscored the DCoE role as a reputable source of evidence-based treatment recommendations, prevention and resilience building resources and educational materials for use by the professional community.

"At DCoE, we take an expansive view and provide resources that not only apply to the military community but are germane to the general population,"said Nacev.

DCoE presenters had varying but complementary views on why the subjects they presented resonated with the APA community and how DCoE participation benefited the military community. Bender said that APA realizes many returning service members need help with psychological concerns, and with the training received at the convention, civilian providers can deepen their understanding of issues service members face, like PTSD and TBI, and treat them in a culturally sensitive way.

Bender also said many in his audience were surprised to learn about neuroendocrine disorders secondary to TBI and the symptoms associated with them, like weight gain and muscle atrophy. Reger pointed to the APA size and influence in the professional community and its division dedicated specifically to military psychology.

"Without active participation in this organization, decisions with direct bearing on the military community will be made without our voice," said Reger.

Nacev added a personal note. "This was my 30th APA convention and I was impressed by the new and innovative ideas the next generation of psychologists are bringing to the field."

APA now offers continuing education units for psychologists attending the DCoE monthly webinars.