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Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD
N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Denise M Sloan, PhD
Research Sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up change from baseline to 20- weeks post first treatment session
Awards & highlights
Study Summary
This trial is studying whether a brief, exposure-based treatment (Written Exposure Therapy) is just as effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder as a more commonly used, time-intensive approach (Prolonged Exposure).
Who is the study for?
This trial is for Veterans with PTSD who are not currently receiving other psychosocial treatments for it, have no severe cognitive impairments or substance dependence, and are not at high risk of suicide. They should be on a stable dose of any psychotropic medications for at least 30 days before starting the study.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The study compares two types of exposure therapy for PTSD in Veterans: Written Exposure Therapy (WET), which is brief, and Prolonged Exposure (PE), which takes more time. Participants will be randomly assigned to one treatment and monitored over several weeks to measure PTSD severity and quality of life.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
While specific side effects are not listed, exposure therapies can sometimes temporarily increase distress as individuals confront traumatic memories during treatment. The impact on each individual may vary.
Timeline
Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~ change from baseline to 20- weeks post first treatment session
Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~change from baseline to 20- weeks post first treatment session
Treatment Details
Study Objectives
Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.Primary outcome measures
Mental disorders
Secondary outcome measures
World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF
Trial Design
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: written exposure therapyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The WET condition consists of 5-7 weekly treatment sessions, with the first session lasting 1 hour and each subsequent session lasting approximately 40 minutes. The first session consists of education about common trauma reactions and the WET rationale. The participant is then given general instructions for completing the trauma narratives and specific instructions for completing the first 30-minute narrative writing session. All WET sessions begin with the therapist reading the specific writing instructions, clarifying any questions the person has, and leaving the instructions with the participant during the 30-minute writing session. Writing instructions begin with a focus on the details of the trauma and then shift to the meaning of the trauma event. After 30 minutes of writing, the therapist stops the writing and conducts a 5-10 minute check-in regarding how the writing session went for the participant.
Group II: Prolonged ExposureActive Control1 Intervention
Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a 8-15, 90 minute trauma-focused treatment which consists of imaginal and in vivo exposures
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Who is running the clinical trial?
VA Office of Research and DevelopmentLead Sponsor
1,609 Previous Clinical Trials
3,306,425 Total Patients Enrolled
Denise M Sloan, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorVA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
1 Previous Clinical Trials
198 Total Patients Enrolled
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Eligibility Criteria:
This trial includes the following eligibility criteria:- You have significant problems with memory or thinking abilities, as measured by a test called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).You are currently receiving therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).You are currently diagnosed with substance addiction, but substance abuse is not a reason for exclusion.You have a high risk of wanting to harm yourself, including having a plan to do so.
Research Study Groups:
This trial has the following groups:- Group 1: written exposure therapy
- Group 2: Prolonged Exposure
Awards:
This trial has 1 awards, including:- No Placebo-Only Group - All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.
Timeline:
This trial has the following timeline:- Screening: It may take up to 3 Weeks to process to see if you qualify in this trial.
- Treatment: The duration you will receive the treatment varies.
- Follow Ups: You may be asked to continue sharing information regarding the trial for 6 Months after you stop receiving the treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.
Are there any openings for new participants in this research project?
"Affirmative. According to clinicaltrials.gov, this trial was initially announced on September 9th 2019 and has been recently updated as of December 22nd 2021. It is now seeking 150 participants from 3 different locations."
Answered by AI
What is the highest number of participants being accepted into this medical research?
"Affirmative. Clinicaltrials.gov provides evidence that recruitment for this trial has been underway since September 9th 2019 and was last updated on December 22nd 2021. The medical experiment requires 150 participants to be sourced between 3 sites."
Answered by AI
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