Can Interpersonal Trust Predict and Account for Symptom Change During Group Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD? An Investigation of the Iterated Trust Game.

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Title: Can Interpersonal Trust Predict and Account for Symptom Change During Group Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD? An Investigation of the Iterated Trust Game.
Authors: Williams, M. Wright (AUTHOR), Hunt, Christopher (AUTHOR), Graham, David P. (AUTHOR), Estey, Matt (AUTHOR), Smith, Lia (AUTHOR), McCurry, Katherine (AUTHOR), King‐Casas, Brooks (AUTHOR), Chiu, Pearl (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Clinical Psychology. Nov2025, Vol. 81 Issue 11, p1118-1128. 11p.
Subjects: Trust, Post-traumatic stress disorder, United States. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Treatment effectiveness, Cognitive therapy, Change (Psychology), Veterans
Abstract: Objective: Group cognitive processing therapy (GCPT) is frequently utilized to treat PTSD within the VA healthcare system, but its mechanisms are not well understood. Interpersonal trust could be an important change process in GCPT given its relevance to group‐based therapy and its role in CPT, but self‐report measures are inadequate for capturing the dynamic interplay that defines interpersonal trust. Here, we examined the degree to which interpersonal could predict and account for PTSD symptom change in GCPT using the iterated trust game (ITG)—a behavioral task used to approximate real‐world trust behavior. Methods: Participants were Veterans with PTSD who participated in an effectiveness trial comparing a 12‐week course of GCPT (n = 37) to a treatment‐as‐usual (TAU) waitlist condition (n = 23) of equivalent length. Both groups completed the ITG and measures of PTSD before and after treatment as well as a pencil‐paper measure of interpersonal trust before treatment. Participants in GCPT completed measures of PTSD severity, group relationship quality, and therapist relationship quality at each treatment session. Results: Pre‐post changes in ITG‐measured trust behavior did not differ between GCPT and TAU (p = 0.075). However, improvements in ITG scores partially accounted for decreased PTSD symptoms in GCPT, as demonstrated by a more modest change in PTSD symptoms when ITG was in, b = −5.95, p = 0.032, versus not in the model, b = −9.05, p = 0.001. Additionally, higher ITG scores, but not self‐reported trust, predicted steeper reductions in PTSD symptoms, b = −0.50, p = 0.042, and improvements in group relationship quality, b = 0.28, p = 0.037, across GCPT sessions. Conclusions: Interpersonal trust improvement may predict and account for symptom change in GCPT. Targeting interpersonal trust during GCPT could render the treatment more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Clinical Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Can Interpersonal Trust Predict and Account for Symptom Change During Group Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD? An Investigation of the Iterated Trust Game.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Williams%2C+M%2E+Wright%22">Williams, M. Wright</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hunt%2C+Christopher%22">Hunt, Christopher</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Graham%2C+David+P%2E%22">Graham, David P.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Estey%2C+Matt%22">Estey, Matt</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Smith%2C+Lia%22">Smith, Lia</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McCurry%2C+Katherine%22">McCurry, Katherine</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22King‐Casas%2C+Brooks%22">King‐Casas, Brooks</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chiu%2C+Pearl%22">Chiu, Pearl</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Clinical+Psychology%22">Journal of Clinical Psychology</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 81 Issue 11, p1118-1128. 11p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trust%22">Trust</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Post-traumatic+stress+disorder%22">Post-traumatic stress disorder</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%2E+Dept%2E+of+Veterans+Affairs%22">United States. Dept. of Veterans Affairs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Treatment+effectiveness%22">Treatment effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+therapy%22">Cognitive therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Change+%28Psychology%29%22">Change (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Veterans%22">Veterans</searchLink>
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  Data: Objective: Group cognitive processing therapy (GCPT) is frequently utilized to treat PTSD within the VA healthcare system, but its mechanisms are not well understood. Interpersonal trust could be an important change process in GCPT given its relevance to group‐based therapy and its role in CPT, but self‐report measures are inadequate for capturing the dynamic interplay that defines interpersonal trust. Here, we examined the degree to which interpersonal could predict and account for PTSD symptom change in GCPT using the iterated trust game (ITG)—a behavioral task used to approximate real‐world trust behavior. Methods: Participants were Veterans with PTSD who participated in an effectiveness trial comparing a 12‐week course of GCPT (n = 37) to a treatment‐as‐usual (TAU) waitlist condition (n = 23) of equivalent length. Both groups completed the ITG and measures of PTSD before and after treatment as well as a pencil‐paper measure of interpersonal trust before treatment. Participants in GCPT completed measures of PTSD severity, group relationship quality, and therapist relationship quality at each treatment session. Results: Pre‐post changes in ITG‐measured trust behavior did not differ between GCPT and TAU (p = 0.075). However, improvements in ITG scores partially accounted for decreased PTSD symptoms in GCPT, as demonstrated by a more modest change in PTSD symptoms when ITG was in, b = −5.95, p = 0.032, versus not in the model, b = −9.05, p = 0.001. Additionally, higher ITG scores, but not self‐reported trust, predicted steeper reductions in PTSD symptoms, b = −0.50, p = 0.042, and improvements in group relationship quality, b = 0.28, p = 0.037, across GCPT sessions. Conclusions: Interpersonal trust improvement may predict and account for symptom change in GCPT. Targeting interpersonal trust during GCPT could render the treatment more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Clinical Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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              Text: Nov2025
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