Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for PTSD

(ACT-SS Trial)

No longer recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Megan M Kelly, PhD MS

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: Psychotic disorder, Substance use, Cognitive impairment, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help Veterans with PTSD improve their social relationships. PTSD often causes Veterans to feel detached and avoid social situations, leading to poor social support. The trial compares this therapy with Present-Centered Therapy, a common treatment focusing on current life problems. Veterans with PTSD who struggle with social connections and have stable medication are well-suited for this study. Participants will help researchers determine which therapy better improves social support. As an unphased trial, this study offers Veterans the chance to contribute to important research that could enhance PTSD treatment options.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial does not require you to stop your current medications, but you must not have changed your psychoactive medication or its dose in the past 2 months.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is generally safe for people with PTSD. Studies found that veterans participating in ACT sessions managed the therapy well, with no major reports of serious side effects. In fact, ACT has proven both acceptable and effective in managing PTSD symptoms, indicating good tolerance.

While detailed reports of negative effects are unavailable, the absence of significant negative feedback in previous studies suggests that ACT is a safe option for those considering this treatment. It helps improve social support by addressing avoidance and emotional detachment, which is crucial for veterans with PTSD. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Improve Social Support (ACT-SS) because it takes a unique approach to treating PTSD by focusing on enhancing social connections for veterans. Unlike standard therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which primarily focus on processing traumatic memories, ACT-SS aims to reduce experiential avoidance and strengthen social support networks, which are often neglected in PTSD treatments. Present-Centered Therapy (PCT), on the other hand, provides emotional support by focusing on current life challenges related to trauma, offering a distinct approach by emphasizing the "here and now." Together, these therapies offer new avenues for improving the quality of life for individuals with PTSD through social support and present-focused strategies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for PTSD?

Research has shown that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), one of the treatments in this trial, can help reduce PTSD symptoms. Studies have found that ACT helps individuals stop avoiding distressing thoughts, become more mindful, and adapt better to changes. One study found that ACT led to greater improvement in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression compared to those who did not receive the therapy. These findings suggest that ACT could be a promising way to help Veterans with PTSD improve their social connections and overall well-being. Meanwhile, another treatment arm in this trial, Present-Centered Therapy (PCT), focuses on providing emotional support and addressing current life difficulties related to trauma. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Megan Marie Kelly, PhD MS

Principal Investigator

VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Veterans aged 18+ with PTSD who struggle in social relationships. They must have a stable medication regimen for at least 2 months, be willing to be recorded, and score at least 31 on the PCL-5 scale. It's not open to those with recent suicidality, cognitive impairments, severe domestic violence issues, ongoing PTSD therapy or manic episodes, substance abuse within the last month, or any psychotic disorders.

Inclusion Criteria

You need to have a score of at least 31 on a specific questionnaire called the PCL-5.

You have significant problems getting along with other people.

I am able to understand and sign the consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

You have or had a serious mental illness called psychotic disorder.

I am currently experiencing a manic episode.

My thinking or memory problems do not prevent me from participating in studies.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Improve Social Support (ACT-SS) or Present-Centered Therapy (PCT) for 12 weeks

12 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in social functioning, PTSD symptoms, and quality of life

6 months

3-month and 6-month follow-up assessments

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Improve Social Support for Veterans with PTSD
• Present-Centered Therapy

Trial Overview The study compares Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT-SS), aimed at improving social support among veterans with PTSD by addressing interpersonal difficulties and avoidance behaviors against Present-Centered Therapy (PCT). The trial involves randomly assigning participants into two groups of 75 each to test which therapy is more effective.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Improve Social Support Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This treatment is designed to help Veterans with PTSD increase social support in family, partner, and peer relationships by reducing experiential avoidance. ACT-SS is specifically designed to address deficits in the entire social support network for Veterans with PTSD.

Group II: Present-Centered Therapy Active Control 1 Intervention

PCT is designed to provide the emotional support for individuals with PTSD that will assist with recovery. The focus of PCT is on the "here and now," including current life difficulties that are directly or indirectly related to the experience of trauma. PCT aims to help the patient consider ways to react to these difficulties.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+

Citations

1. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525684/

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Post-Traumatic ... The purpose of this report is to summarize the evidence of clinical effectiveness of ACT in adult patients with trauma-related post-traumatic stress disorder, ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212144718303363

Acceptance-based interventions in the treatment of PTSD Individual ACT intervention found reductions in PTSD symptoms. ... Changes found in thought suppression, mindfulness, psychological flexibility. Abstract.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12249220/

The Role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in ... Findings suggest that ACT is an effective treatment for reducing distress and disability associated with psychotic symptoms. Effect size: The ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796723001882

Efficacy and acceptability of mobile application-delivered ... Compared to WL, the ACT group showed a greater improvement in PTSD symptoms (d = −0.79), anxiety (d = −0.62), depression (d = -0.51), posttraumatic growth (d = ...

5. psycnet.apa.org psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-32664-001

Effects of acceptance and commitment therapy on trauma ... Although there have been systematic reviews on the clinical effectiveness of ACT for posttraumatic stress disorder, there are no known meta-analyses ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1077722916300293

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Posttraumatic ... This study aimed to assess the efficacy, acceptability, and safety of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for persons suffering from PTSD with comorbid ...

7. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/12/3482

A Randomized Pilot Study of Acceptance and Commitment ... Participants were randomized to twelve sessions of either ACT-SS (n = 21) or PCT (n = 19). The results showed that veterans with PTSD had high ratings of ...

8. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38421757/

Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy for ... Results: This study provides preliminary evidence for the acceptability, safety, and effectiveness of iACT for comorbid PTSD and chronic pain.

9. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/389586557_The_Effectiveness_of_Trauma-Focused_Acceptance_and_Commitment_Therapy_in_Reducing_Symptoms_of_Complex_Post-Traumatic_Stress_Disorder_A_Single_Case_Study_Mixed_Method

(PDF) The Effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Acceptance ... Quantitative findings demonstrated significant reductions in core C-PTSD symptoms, including hyperarousal, avoidance, intrusive memories, and ...