POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

This study tests a short counseling program (about 4 sessions) designed to help pregnant and postpartum women in Cape Town, South Africa, keep taking their daily HIV-prevention pill (PrEP). Many women stop PrEP due to depression or trauma from violence. The program uses cognitive…

This study tests whether giving e-cigarettes to smokers with mental illness—along with optional behavioral coaching—helps them switch from regular cigarettes and lower their exposure to harmful chemicals. The trial enrolls 250 daily smokers who have tried to quit before but aren'…

This study tests whether a short form of exposure therapy, given soon after a traumatic injury, can prevent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Researchers will enroll 300 injured adults admitted to Level I trauma centers. Half will receive the brief therapy plus standard care,…

This study tests a smartphone-based program called RISE Guide for women who have just been sexually assaulted. The goal is to see if it can reduce anxiety sensitivity and prevent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cannabis use disorder (CUD). 68 women who seek emergency car…

This study tests an internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) program designed specifically for Canadian public safety personnel (like police, firefighters, and paramedics) who have symptoms of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress. Participants choose their leve…

This study looks at whether adding a peer support program (WoVeN) to a self-help version of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) helps women veterans with PTSD feel better and improve their mental well-being. About 100 women who have served in the U.S. military and have PTSD sympto…

This study looks at whether a therapy called prolonged exposure, given through video calls, can help people with both opioid use disorder and PTSD. About 135 adults on stable medication for opioid use will take part. The goal is to see if this approach improves therapy attendance…

This study tests whether a type of talk therapy called prolonged exposure therapy, plus small financial rewards for attending sessions, can reduce PTSD symptoms in pregnant women. Thirty pregnant women with PTSD will receive weekly therapy for 12 weeks. Researchers will measure s…

This study explores whether teaching people emotion regulation skills tailored to their individual needs works better than a one-size-fits-all approach. Researchers will enroll 390 adults with emotional difficulties, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, and assign them to practi…

This study tests whether EMDR, a therapy that uses guided eye movements, can help people with PTSD caused by a heart attack. Sixty adults who had a heart attack and developed PTSD will receive eight weekly EMDR sessions. The goal is to see if EMDR reduces PTSD symptoms and might …

This study tests whether a nerve block (stellate ganglion block) or the drug ketamine, alone or together, can reduce headaches and PTSD symptoms in people who have had a traumatic brain injury. About 175 adults will receive one of four treatments, including sham procedures, to se…

This study looks at whether adding morning bright light therapy to cognitive training can improve thinking, daily function, and sleep in 144 veterans who have both mild traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Participants will receive either the light therapy or a placebo light device. …

This study tests whether a type of magnetic brain stimulation called iTBS can help people with PTSD. Researchers will give 140 adults either real or fake (sham) stimulation to see if it reduces symptoms like flashbacks and anxiety. The goal is to find a new, non-drug treatment op…

This study tests whether adding cognitive processing therapy (CPT) to standard relapse prevention (RP) helps people with both PTSD and alcohol use disorder more than RP alone. About 200 adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder and current PTSD will receive either CPT+R…

This study tests two treatments for insomnia in veterans who also have PTSD. One is a brief behavioral therapy focused on sleep habits, and the other is a relaxation technique. Researchers want to see which one improves sleep and daily life more, and if benefits last over time. A…

This study compares a 3-session couples program (Brief Relationship Checkup) to standard individual care for 360 veterans and their partners who have relationship and mental health concerns. The goal is to see which approach better reduces suicide risk factors by improving relati…

This study tests whether a non-medication sleep program (CBT-I) can improve sleep, PTSD symptoms, and heart health in older adults with PTSD who still have sleep problems after PTSD therapy. About 167 veterans aged 50 and older will receive PTSD therapy first, then the sleep prog…

This study tests whether a low dose of clonidine, a drug usually used for high blood pressure, can improve sleep and reduce PTSD symptoms in veterans. About 32 veterans with PTSD will take a flexible dose of clonidine nightly for 6 weeks. Researchers will track changes in sleep q…

This study tests a program called Reminder-Focused Positive Psychiatry (RFPP) for teens aged 11-15 with PTSD. The program helps teens reframe traumatic memories in a positive way. Researchers will compare RFPP to a general support group to see if it reduces PTSD symptoms and impr…

This study tests a special type of talk therapy called Multi-Modal Cognitive Processing Therapy (MMCPT) for people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty adults with PTSD will either receive 12 weekly therapy sessions or standard care. Researchers will track changes in …

This study tests a brief, two-session program for family members of Veterans with PTSD. The goal is to see if this family support helps Veterans stay in their regular PTSD therapy longer and have fewer symptoms. About 200 Veterans and their family members will take part. If it wo…

This study tests a stepped care approach that uses complementary health treatments (like acupuncture or yoga) for people with both chronic pain and PTSD. About 60 adults from two primary care clinics will either receive this stepped care or their usual treatment. Researchers want…

This study tests whether a short writing therapy called Written Exposure Therapy (WET) can help veterans who have both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a substance use disorder. About 170 veterans will complete five writing sessions about their trauma. The goal is to see …

This study tests a new way to help veterans with PTSD stop smoking. It combines counseling, nicotine gum, and a noninvasive brain stimulation called TMS. Researchers want to see if this approach is practical and helps veterans stay smoke-free for at least 3 months. About 50 veter…

This study is testing two different ways of delivering intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to veterans with PTSD and anxiety disorders. One format is individual therapy over two weeks, and the other is group therapy over two days. Both are compared to standard care. The …

This study looks at whether a smartphone app called PE Coach can help veterans with PTSD do better in a proven type of talk therapy called prolonged exposure. About 124 veterans will be randomly assigned to receive therapy with or without the app. The goal is to see if the app im…

This study looks at whether art therapy can help active-duty military and recent veterans who have PTSD symptoms. Forty participants will attend 11 sessions over 6-8 months, including art therapy with a certified therapist and two MRI brain scans. The goal is to see if art therap…

This study aims to find the best strategies for veterans with PTSD who aren't helped by their first treatment. Researchers will test a flexible version of Cognitive Processing Therapy and text message reminders to encourage homework completion. The goal is to match the right type…

This study tests whether virtual reality (VR) can help healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants will use VR headsets during 10 therapy sessions over 5 weeks to safely revisit and overcome traumatic memories. The goal is to s…

This study tests a mobile app designed to help veterans with PTSD who struggle with anger. 150 veterans will be randomly assigned to use either the anger-reduction app or a health education app. The goal is to see if the anger app helps more veterans get their anger under control…

This early-stage study at Johns Hopkins is testing whether giving both psilocybin and MDMA together is safe and can help reduce PTSD symptoms in military veterans. Forty veterans with PTSD will receive the drugs in a controlled setting. The study tracks side effects, suicidal tho…

This pilot study tests whether cognitive behavioral therapy (a type of talk therapy) for PTSD can also reduce the risk of heart disease. Researchers will measure inflammation, heart rate variability, and brain activity in 30 adults with PTSD and heart risk factors. Half will rece…

This study tests a program to help doctors in psychiatric clinics prescribe medications for alcohol use disorder to patients who also have serious mental illness. The program uses an external facilitator to work with clinic staff and overcome barriers to prescribing. The goal is …

This study is testing a new family-based program (Fam-AID) for teens aged 13-21 who are getting treatment for substance use and also have anxiety or depression. The program adds extra support for mental health and family involvement to their usual care. Researchers want to see if…

This study looks at how drinking problems and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) together may lead to violence between partners. Researchers will observe 70 couples in a lab and track their daily experiences for 28 days. The goal is to better understand these connections, not t…

This study tests whether a device called rTMS, which uses magnetic pulses to temporarily change brain activity, can alter how people with anxiety respond to fearful situations. Researchers will measure brain signals and reactions in 80 adults who recently started anxiety treatmen…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) can reduce arousal in people with PTSD. Researchers will apply cTBS to a brain region involved in attention and fear processing, then measure startle responses and…

This study tests whether a technology called transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) can temporarily change brain activity linked to anxiety. Researchers will recruit 40 adults with anxiety disorders who recently started treatment. Participants will undergo brain imaging and then …

This study tests a stepped care program called the Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program (TRRP) for people hospitalized after a traumatic injury. It includes education, symptom tracking, and referrals to mental health services. Researchers will follow 350 participants for 12 mon…