Optimizing Treatment Response in VA Specialized Intensive/Inpatient PTSD Programs



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Psychiatric
Therapuetic Areas:Psychiatry / Psychology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:11/17/2018
Start Date:June 1, 2018
End Date:March 31, 2022
Contact:Heather M Walters, MS
Email:heather.walters@va.gov
Phone:(734) 845-3650

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Pilot Study of Group Prolonged Exposure in Residential Treatment (CDA 15-251)

Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE) is a first-line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder;
however few VA patients receive this treatment. One of the barriers to PE receipt is that
this treatment is only available in an individual (one-on-one) format, whereas many VA mental
health clinics provide the majority of their psychotherapy services in group format. In
particular, PTSD residential rehabilitation programs (RRTPs) offer most programming in group
format. Thus, the current study was designed to pilot test a group format of PE in RRTPs.

Fifty Veterans who are currently receiving treatment in the PTSD RRTP at a Midwest VA will be
recruited to participate in a Group PE protocol. Participants will engage in 12, 90-minute
sessions of Group PE over the course of 6 weeks. Treatment consists of psychoeducation,
rationale for treatment, and in vivo exposure to reduce trauma-related avoidance and thereby
improve PTSD symptoms. PTSD symptoms will be measured via the PCL-5. The goal of this pilot
study will be to determine whether or not it will be feasible to conduct a full-scale trial
of Group PE in the current setting by testing the process, resources, management, and
scientific basis of the planned trial. As such, the proposed study will primarily assess
feasibility outcomes and not efficacy outcomes. The investigators will assess number of
participants screened, number meeting inclusion criteria, adherence of participants to the
proposed treatment (measured via number of sessions attended), standard deviation of the
outcome measure (PCL-5), response rates to questionnaires, and loss to follow-up. The
investigators will also measure clinicians' adherence to protocol and acceptability of the
treatment to patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Inclusion criteria are current engagement in treatment at the Battle Creek VA PTSD
Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Exclusion criteria are severe cognitive impairment that in the judgment of the PI or
the patient's clinical providers make it unlikely that the patient can adhere to the
study protocol.
We found this trial at
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Battle Creek, Michigan 49037
Phone: 734-845-3650
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Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113
Principal Investigator: Rebecca Kaufman Sripada, PhD MS
Phone: (734) 845-3650
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Ann Arbor, MI
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