RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05327504

Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans With SUD and PTSD

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

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Enrollment

170 participants

Start Date

Sep 26, 2022

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Substance Use Disorders Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Summary

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.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study tests whether Written Exposure Therapy — a structured writing-based treatment — can help veterans who have both PTSD and a substance use disorder (such as alcohol or drug addiction). **You may be eligible if...** - You are a veteran aged 18 or older - You meet the criteria for at least one substance use disorder - You meet the criteria for PTSD - You are approved for substance use treatment at VA Connecticut Healthcare System **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or unmedicated mania or bipolar disorder - You are currently at risk of harming yourself or others - You have received evidence-based PTSD therapy in the last 6 months - You are unable to complete written exercises due to illiteracy or other barriers Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALWritten Exposure Therapy

Written Exposure Therapy is a 5 session treatment in which individuals write about their trauma event in a specified manner.

BEHAVIORALNeutral Topic Writing

Treatment as Usual augmented by 5 sessions of Neutral Topic Writing which involves writing about specific objects (e.g., what they have eaten over the past week) or events (e.g., what they did since yesterday) in detail without discussing thoughts or feelings.