Written Versus Verbal Brief Cognitive Behavioral Exposure Therapy

Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research130 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of the study is to compare the efficacy of two different versions of a brief online exposure therapy program for PTSD: written versus verbal trauma narrative recounting in reducing PTSD symptom severity. Both treatments will be delivered through an interactive online program with coaching from a trained peer support specialist. Treatment will be a variable length, such that 4 to 8 sessions will be delivered, depending on each participants' rate of PTSD symptom recovery.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

130

Conditions

Written Exposure Therapy Imaginal Exposure Therapy

Interventions

Written Exposure TherapyBEHAVIORAL

In this study, written exposure therapy is delivered in an online format with coaching from trained peer support specialists. Participants will complete 4-8 sessions, depending on their level of symptom reduction (i.e., allow for early termination when low symptom levels are achieved).

Imaginal Exposure TherapyBEHAVIORAL

Delivery of imaginal exposure in this study will mirror the procedures used in WET. It will be delivered in an online format with coaching from trained peer support specialists. Participants will complete 4-8 sessions, depending on their level of symptom reduction (i.e., allow for early termination when low symptom levels are achieved).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 99 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Able to read/write English * Internet connection allowing stable access to the Vets Prevail website * A clinically significant PCL-5 score of 31 or above. Exclusion Criteria: * A score on the suicidality item of the PHQ-9 of 3 or higher.

Locations (1)

Prevail Health Inc.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder CheckList for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - 5 (PCL-5; Weathers, et al., 2013)

Self report measure of PTSD symptoms. A total symptom severity score (range - 0-80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items. Higher scores indicate greater PTSD severity.

Time frame: Change in total score from baseline to 3-months post treatment (approximately 14-18 weeks).

Secondary Outcomes

Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001).

Self report measure of depression symptoms. It is the 9-item measure that yields a total score of 0-27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity.

Time frame: Change in total score from baseline to 3-months post treatment (approximately 14-18 weeks).

Brief version of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS-16; Bjureberg et al,. 2016)

A 16-item self report measure of difficulties in emotion regulation. Total scores on the DERS-16 can range from 16 to 80, with higher scores reflecting greater levels of emotion dysregulation.

Time frame: Change in total score from baseline to 3-months post treatment (approximately 14-18 weeks).

Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS; Mundt et al., 2002)

A 5-item self-report measure of work and social functioning and impact of symptoms. Total scores range from 0-40 with higher scores indicating greater impairment.

Time frame: Change in total score from baseline to 3-months post treatment (approximately 14-18 weeks).

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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