What is it about?
This study examined Stress Inoculation Training for veterans receiving care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program teaches practical skills for managing stress, regulating emotions, and improving day-to-day functioning. Across several VA sites, 281 veterans participated in the program. Participants reported improvements in posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, alcohol use, and their ability to adapt to stress, with the largest gains seen in stress adaptation and functioning. The program was delivered both in person and by telehealth, suggesting that it can be used in different clinical settings. Since the study did not include a comparison group, the findings show improvement during participation but do not prove that the training itself caused the changes.
Featured Image
Photo by Avery Cocozziello on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Many veterans with PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, and related concerns continue to experience symptoms or face barriers to engaging in trauma-focused treatment. This study is important because it evaluates a practical, skills-based program delivered within routine VA care rather than under tightly controlled research conditions. Veterans participating in SIT-HSR showed improvements in PTSD symptoms, depression, and stress adaptation, and the program was feasible across multiple sites and both in-person and telehealth settings. These findings support further evaluation of SIT-HSR as a potentially useful preparatory or complementary service that may help veterans build coping skills, improve functioning, and engage more effectively in continued care.
Perspectives
What stands out most is that the strongest gains were not limited to symptom reduction, but were seen in veterans’ ability to adapt to stress and function more effectively. That matters because recovery is not only about having fewer symptoms; it is also about being better able to manage stress, re-engage in daily life, and continue with needed care. The real-world nature of this work is also important. SIT-HSR was delivered within routine VA settings, including by telehealth, providing a practical foundation for further evaluation. Taken together, these findings suggest that skills-based, function-focused approaches such as SIT-HSR may have an important role in expanding how veteran care supports recovery, particularly as a preparatory or complementary service alongside established treatments.
Dale Russell
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Evaluating symptom reduction and functional recovery among combat veterans undergoing the Stress Inoculation Training Health Sustainment and Restoration (SIT-HSR) protocol., Psychological Services, October 2026, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/ser0001090.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
