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Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD (WEST Trial)

N/A

Waitlist Available

Research Sponsored by Potomac Health Foundations

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 up to 4 weeks, or until the participant discharges from residential treatment (whichever comes first).

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial aims to assess the effectiveness of a therapy called written exposure therapy (WET) for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who are also undergoing residential substance use disorder (S

Who is the study for?

This trial is for individuals with both substance use disorders (SUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who are currently in a short-term residential treatment program. The study is designed to see if adding written exposure therapy (WET) to their usual care helps reduce PTSD symptoms more than usual care alone.

What is being tested?

The trial tests the addition of written exposure therapy, a treatment for PTSD, to the standard care given in a residential program for substance abuse. It aims to determine if this combined approach is feasible and effective at reducing PTSD symptoms within the context of severe SUD.

What are the potential side effects?

Since Written Exposure Therapy involves writing about traumatic events, it may cause temporary emotional discomfort or distress. However, it's generally considered low-risk compared to other forms of trauma-focused therapy.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ up to 4 weeks, or until the participant discharges from residential treatment (whichever comes first).

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~up to 4 weeks, or until the participant discharges from residential treatment (whichever comes first).

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 4 weeks, or until the participant discharges from residential treatment (whichever comes first). for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Efficacy of WET

Secondary study objectives

Acceptability of WET delivered in residential SUD treatment context

Feasibility of WET delivered in residential SUD treatment context

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: TAU + Written Exposure Therapy (WET)Experimental Treatment2 Interventions

Participants in this condition receive everything included in TAU plus 5 individual sessions of WET delivered by a therapist. Sessions average less than 60 minutes and primarily involve writing about the traumatic experience that is guided by the therapist.

Group II: Treatment as Usual (TAU)Active Control1 Intervention

Participants randomized to the TAU condition, which involves the standard clinical services available in a short term residential SUD treatment context. Examples of these services are: Individual counseling/case management; Group psychoeducation; Group counseling; Assessment and addiction related medical treatment from a physician; Pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders; 12-step groups. However, participants in this group do not receive treatment that is targeted at decreasing PTSD symptoms.

Treatment

First Studied

Drug Approval Stage

How many patients have taken this drug

Written Exposure Therapy

2021

Completed Phase 2

~370

Treatment as Usual

2016

Completed Phase 3

~2710