Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans With SUD and PTSD

Description

The proposed project will evaluate the efficacy of written exposure therapy (WET) among Veterans engaged in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, who present with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While SUD treatment programs traditionally do not address PTSD, effective trauma treatments have been used successfully among those with substance use comorbidities. WET is a brief trauma-focused intervention shown to effectively treat PTSD. In a recent acceptability and feasibility pilot study among Veterans with co-occurring SUD and PTSD, results showed a decrease in PTSD symptoms among participants receiving WET. The goal of the present study is to improve outcomes for Veterans who present for SUD treatment with comorbid SUD/PTSD.

Conditions

Substance Use Disorders, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The proposed project will evaluate the efficacy of written exposure therapy (WET) among Veterans engaged in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, who present with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While SUD treatment programs traditionally do not address PTSD, effective trauma treatments have been used successfully among those with substance use comorbidities. WET is a brief trauma-focused intervention shown to effectively treat PTSD. In a recent acceptability and feasibility pilot study among Veterans with co-occurring SUD and PTSD, results showed a decrease in PTSD symptoms among participants receiving WET. The goal of the present study is to improve outcomes for Veterans who present for SUD treatment with comorbid SUD/PTSD.

Written Exposure Therapy (WET) as a Brief Trauma Treatment for Veterans With Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders and PTSD

Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans With SUD and PTSD

Condition
Substance Use Disorders
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

West Haven

VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT, West Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06516-2770

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Veterans ages 18 years old or older;
  • * Meets DSM-5 criteria for at least one substance use disorder (SUD);
  • * Meets DSM-5 criteria for PTSD;
  • * Approved for SUD treatment at VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
  • * Veterans who meet current criteria for schizophrenia, schizophrenia-type disorders, or unmedicated mania or bipolar disorder as determined by QuickSCID-5;
  • * current suicidal or homicidal risks necessitating a higher level of care;
  • * Veterans who have received an Evidence-Based Psychotherapy for PTSD protocol within the past 6 months;
  • * Problems that would prevent a participant from completing the writing intervention or study assessments (e.g., illiteracy). To assess for literacy, participants will read parts of the consent out loud.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Sarah Meshberg-Cohen, PhD MS BS, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT

Study Record Dates

2027-06-30