The Effectiveness of Faith-Based Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy for African Americans with PTSD

Abstract This study examines the effectiveness of an adaptive version of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) with faith-based concepts for African Americans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The severity level was determined by a pre-test Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score of 35 and above. Effectiveness was measured by a post-test PCL-5 score that changed by 5 degrees. The score is the criterion variable that will be measured using the PCL-5 scores. The predictive variable was religiosity which was determined by three levels of participation in religious activities. Participants who indicated they did not participate in religious activities were identified with an interval of 0. Participants who indicated they participated in religious activities weekly were identified with an interval of 1, and participants who indicated they participated in religious activities monthly were identified with an interval of 2. The study also determined if the early termination rate would indicate a statistically significant difference between levels of religiosity. Using a repeated measure ANOVA, the research found a statistically significant difference between pre-PCL-5 and post-PCL-5 scores. A one-way ANOVA was used to determine if religiosity influenced the termination rate and found no statistically significant difference in termination rate.