Correction to "An uncontrolled trial of couple HOPES: A guided online couple intervention for PTSD and relationship enhancement" by Monson et al. (2022).

Abstract

Reports an error in "An uncontrolled trial of couple HOPES: A guided online couple intervention for PTSD and relationship enhancement" by Candice M. Monson, Anne C. Wagner, Alexander O. Crenshaw, Kristen M. Whitfield, Cait Martin Newnham, Robert Valela, Sonya Varma, Alyssa A. Di Bartolomeo, Lindsay Fulham, Alexis Collins, Victoria Donkin, Desiree H. Mensah, Meredith S. H. Landy, Christina Samonas, Leslie Morland, Brian D. Doss and Skye Fitzpatrick (Journal of Family Psychology, 2022[Sep], Vol 36[6], 1036-1042; see record 2022-41008-001). In the article, analyses involving the anger variable were originally excluded because the α reliability of the scale was unacceptably low. However, it was discovered that the measure contained errors, making the scale invalid. As a result, Footnote 2, cited in the second paragraph of the Measures section, was changed to read "We preregistered to test changes in drug use via the ASI (McLellan et al., 1980) and in anger via the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, Trait Anger Subscale (Spielberger, 2010). However, the internal reliability for ASI drug use was unacceptably low (α = .42), and we discovered that there were errors in the anger scale, causing it to be invalid. The cause of poor reliability for drug use is likely due to floor effects, as most responses were nil, and the preintervention mean was .014 on a 0-1 scale. As we could not be confident in the measurement of these constructs, results regarding the treatment effect on anger and drug use are excluded. The α for ASI alcohol misuse (.62) was also suboptimal, but, unlike drug use, was not low enough to warrant exclusion from reported results as a preregistered outcome." (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2022-41008-001.) Novel interventions that overcome limited access to empirically supported psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are sorely needed. Couple helping overcome PTSD and enhance relationships (HOPES), a guided, online couple intervention drawing from cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT) for PTSD (Monson, 2012), was designed to decrease PTSD symptoms and improve relationship satisfaction. The present study is the first uncontrolled trial of 17 couples in which one partner was a military member, veteran, or first responder and had probable PTSD (PTSD + partner) based on self-report assessment. Intent-to-intervene analyses revealed significant improvements from pre- to postintervention in PTSD + partners' self-reported PTSD symptoms (g = .72), as well as their intimate partner's relationship satisfaction (g = .34) and behavioral accommodation of PTSD symptoms (g = .84). There were also significant improvements in PTSD + partners' depression (g = .43) and perceived relationship arguments (g = .62). There were similar results found in the completer sample. There were no adverse events and high satisfaction with the intervention in those who completed the evaluation. These findings provide additional initial data on the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of Couple HOPES. The similarities of intent-to-intervene and completer results, as well as the need for randomized controlled trial designs to test Couple HOPES, are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).