PTSD

This study tested a weight management program designed specifically for veterans with PTSD who are overweight or have obesity. The program adds extra support to standard PTSD care to help overcome PTSD-related challenges like stress eating or trouble staying active. 174 veterans …

This study tested whether a program combining group savings, small business training, and mental health support could help people with HIV in Kenya stick to their medication and feel better. Over 800 participants took part. The goal was to improve viral suppression, reduce depres…

This study tested whether breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) can help adults with PTSD. The trial included 30 people who had PTSD for at least 4 years and hadn't improved with standard treatments. Researchers used brain scans and questionna…

This study tested whether giving a single dose of hydrocortisone (a stress hormone) within six hours of a traumatic event could help prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 201 adults who came to the emergency room after trauma and showed high distress were randomly given …

This study tested whether a therapy called Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), adapted for people with mild learning disabilities, is acceptable and helpful for easing trauma symptoms. Thirteen adults with mild intellectual disabilities and trauma-related stress took part. They com…

This study tested a digital system (iPhone + Apple Watch with a special app) designed to detect and interrupt nightmares in people with PTSD. The goal was to improve sleep quality without fully waking the person. 270 veterans and active-duty service members took part. The study m…

This study tested whether a group writing therapy called guided written exposure (GWE) helps Chinese teenagers with PTSD or complex PTSD. 53 teens aged 10-18 took part, with half receiving the therapy and half on a waiting list. The therapy involved 5-8 group sessions where they …

This study tested a short, low-intensity psychological program called Problem Management Plus (PM+) for refugees and asylum seekers in Switzerland. The goal was to see if the program is practical and helpful for reducing stress and trauma symptoms. 64 participants took part, and …

This study tested a personalized treatment plan for 3 families affected by domestic violence. Parents and their young children (ages 4-6) received trauma therapy (EMDR) and attachment-based parenting support in an order tailored to their needs. The goal was to reduce PTSD symptom…

This study tested whether adding Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabis compound, to standard talk therapy (Prolonged Exposure) helps reduce PTSD symptoms in military veterans. 136 veterans took part. The goal was to see if CBD makes the therapy work better than therapy a…

This study tested whether a talking therapy called EMDR works as well as antidepressant pills (SSRIs) for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty adults with PTSD were randomly assigned to six weeks of either EMDR sessions or daily SSRI medication. The main goal was…

This study tested whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) — a noninvasive treatment that uses a powerful magnet to stimulate specific brain areas — can improve daily functioning in veterans with PTSD. Researchers compared real TMS to a sham (fake) treatment in 59 veterans…

This small study tested whether a therapy combining MDMA with couples counseling could help veterans with PTSD and their intimate partners. 16 couples took part. The goal was to see if this approach could reduce PTSD symptoms and improve relationship satisfaction.

This study tested whether a 6-week therapy group, led by people who have also been incarcerated, can help reduce PTSD symptoms. 59 adults who had completed a prison or jail sentence and had PTSD took part. The goal was to see if this approach is feasible and helpful for this comm…

This study tested whether virtual reality therapy could prevent anxiety, depression, and PTSD in people who had a lung transplant. 62 adults on the transplant list used a VR headset to gradually get used to stressful ICU situations like alarms. The goal was to see if this trainin…

This study looked at whether a single 20-minute aerobic exercise session could help women with PTSD symptoms regulate their emotions and improve cognitive control. Sixty-seven adult women with significant PTSD symptoms were randomly assigned to either moderate-to-vigorous exercis…

This study tested a 5-week behavioral program for women who experienced sexual assault within the past 6 weeks and also drink alcohol. The program aimed to reduce both post-traumatic stress symptoms and alcohol use. Participants completed surveys and some used a smartphone app fo…

This study tested a group writing therapy for Chinese teenagers with PTSD. 53 teens took part, with half receiving the therapy and half on a waiting list. The therapy involved 5-8 group sessions where they wrote about their trauma. Results showed it helped reduce PTSD and depress…

This small pilot study tested whether adding a type of brain stimulation (called iTBS) to a two-week intensive PTSD program could improve symptoms in veterans. Six participants who weren't improving much in their first week received the combined treatment. The study measured chan…

This study looked at whether a wearable device called Apollo, which delivers gentle vibrations, is acceptable and practical for veterans with PTSD. 63 veterans who served in recent conflicts and had a current PTSD diagnosis wore the device daily. The goal was to see if they found…

This study tested whether repeated doses of ketamine, compared to a placebo, could help veterans with PTSD feel better faster when combined with a standard talk therapy called Prolonged Exposure. The trial included 75 veterans aged 18 to 75. Researchers measured PTSD symptoms usi…

This study tested whether adding oxytocin (a natural hormone) to a standard talk therapy for PTSD helps Veterans feel better faster and stay in treatment longer. About 180 Veterans with PTSD took part. The goal was to see if oxytocin could reduce PTSD symptoms more than therapy a…

This study tested whether taking estrogen pills alongside prolonged exposure therapy (a type of talk therapy) can improve PTSD symptoms in women. 83 women with PTSD took part. They were randomly assigned to receive either estrogen or a placebo with their therapy sessions. The goa…

This study looked at whether adding a short writing therapy (Written Exposure Therapy) to a 28-day residential substance use program helps veterans who have both PTSD and substance use disorders. Fifty-six veterans took part. The goal was to see if the writing therapy was practic…

This study tested a group therapy called Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for incarcerated adults with PTSD. 117 men and women participated, with some receiving therapy immediately and others waiting. The main goal was to see if CPT reduces PTSD symptoms, and the study also loo…

This study tested a therapist-assisted self-management program for 80 veterans who had already completed trauma-focused therapy for PTSD and seen improvement. The goal was to help them maintain or further reduce their symptoms while needing fewer mental health appointments. The p…

This pilot study tested whether a single, 2-hour breathwork session could help veterans with PTSD. 36 adults took part, with optional follow-up sessions. The main goal was to see if the approach was practical and acceptable, while also tracking changes in PTSD symptoms.

This study tested if playing a specific sound during REM sleep could make nightmare therapy work better for people with PTSD. 46 adults with PTSD and chronic nightmares did 3 weekly therapy sessions to imagine a positive ending to their nightmare. Half of them heard a sound durin…

This study tested a new, non-invasive treatment for people with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or PTSD. It used low-intensity focused ultrasound to gently stimulate a brain region called the amygdala, which is involved in emotion. 29 adults received daily sessions for thr…

This study tested whether Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, added to standard HIV care, can reduce psychological trauma and improve quality of life in people recently diagnosed with HIV. Forty adults who were diagnosed within the past month and startin…

This study looked at whether the timing of mild brain stimulation (tDCS) can help people with PTSD better learn that a once-scary cue is now safe. 62 adults with PTSD received either real or fake stimulation during extinction training (unlearning fear) or during memory consolidat…

This study looked at whether brain wave patterns during sleep can serve as an objective test for PTSD. Researchers measured electrical activity in the brains of 26 veterans while they slept. The goal was to find reliable markers that could help diagnose PTSD and track its severit…

This study tested a new Dutch questionnaire designed to measure how people with PTSD think about the causes and effects of their trauma. Researchers looked at whether the questionnaire is reliable and accurate by studying 530 people, including both students and patients receiving…

This study tested whether offering tai chi classes remotely (by video) is practical for veterans dealing with both PTSD and long-term pain. Researchers compared tai chi to a general wellness program over 12 weeks. The goal was not to prove the treatments work, but to see if veter…

This study looked at whether MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can change how certain stress-related genes work in people with PTSD. Researchers collected saliva samples from 45 participants before and after treatment to measure changes in gene activity. The goal was to see if these ge…

This study aims to understand why interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) helps people with PTSD. Unlike most PTSD treatments, IPT does not involve re-living traumatic memories. Instead, it focuses on improving relationships and emotional awareness. Researchers will measure changes in …

This study looked at whether training staff with computer simulations (called participatory system dynamics) helps more veterans start and finish effective treatments for PTSD, depression, and opioid use disorder. About 720 staff from 24 VA health systems took part. The goal was …

This study looked at how well a questionnaire called the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS) can identify post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to childbirth. 67 people who had given birth completed the questionnaire and a diagnostic interview. Researchers compared the res…

This study looked at whether PTSD can damage blood vessels, which might lead to heart disease. Researchers measured blood vessel function in 168 adults who had experienced trauma. The goal was to understand how PTSD affects the body and find ways to reduce heart risk in trauma su…