Mitigating PTSD-CUD After Sexual Assault

Description

683,000 women are sexually assaulted annually in the United States, half of whom develop chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and thus have markedly increased risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD). The current proposal will test the acceptability, initial efficacy, and mechanisms underlying a novel digital therapeutic targeting risk for PTSD-CUD, which could address the critical need for PTSD-CUD prevention for the 100,000 women who annually present for emergency care after sexual assault. In this research context, the applicant will receive key training in multisite, emergency-care based randomized clinical trials (RCTs), advanced statistical analyses for RCTs and ecological momentary assessment data, biobehavioral mechanisms underlying PTSD-CUD prevention, and professional development, launching her independent research career focused on reducing the public health burden of PTSD-CUD among sexual assault survivors by leveraging digital therapeutics.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Cannabis Use Disorder

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

683,000 women are sexually assaulted annually in the United States, half of whom develop chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and thus have markedly increased risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD). The current proposal will test the acceptability, initial efficacy, and mechanisms underlying a novel digital therapeutic targeting risk for PTSD-CUD, which could address the critical need for PTSD-CUD prevention for the 100,000 women who annually present for emergency care after sexual assault. In this research context, the applicant will receive key training in multisite, emergency-care based randomized clinical trials (RCTs), advanced statistical analyses for RCTs and ecological momentary assessment data, biobehavioral mechanisms underlying PTSD-CUD prevention, and professional development, launching her independent research career focused on reducing the public health burden of PTSD-CUD among sexual assault survivors by leveraging digital therapeutics.

Mitigating PTSD-CUD Among Women Presenting to Emergency Care After Sexual Assault: Testing a Digital Therapeutic Targeting Anxiety Sensitivity

Mitigating PTSD-CUD After Sexual Assault

Condition
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Minneapolis

Hennepin Assault Response Team, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55415

Las Vegas

University Medical Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89102

Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599

Smithfield

Harbor Shelter, Smithfield, North Carolina, United States, 27577

Tulsa

Tulsa Forensic Nursing, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, 74103

Austin

SAFE Austin, Austin, Texas, United States, 74103

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

  • 1. Women sexual assault survivors presenting for emergency care \<72 hours post-assault at 1 of our 4 emergency care sites
  • 2. English speakers
  • 3. 18+ years of age
  • 4. Able to provide informed consent
  • 5. Have a smartphone with continuous service \>1 year
  • 6. Report \>1x/weekly cannabis use on a substance use screener
  • 7. Report elevated AS (\>17 on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3)
  • 1. Inability to provide informed consent (e.g., serious injury preventing the ability to hear, speak, or see to consent and participate, or other causes (e.g., diagnosed cognitive deficits, diagnosed dementia, asleep at time of screening)).
  • 2. Prisoner
  • 3. Currently pregnant
  • 4. Lives with assailant and plans to continue to do so
  • 5. Admitted patient
  • 6. No mailing address
  • 7. Previously enrolled
  • 8. No sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) examination
  • 9. Reporting current plan and intent for suicide or homicide
  • 10. Does not understand written and spoken English

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Nevada, Las Vegas,

Study Record Dates

2027-02-28