Could a simple writing task supercharge PTSD treatment?
NCT ID NCT06088303
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study is testing whether adding a brief writing exercise (AWARE) to standard PTSD therapies like cognitive processing therapy (CPT) or prolonged exposure (PE) can improve patient-therapist communication and treatment outcomes. Researchers will enroll 54 adults with PTSD, first testing the approach in a small group, then randomly assigning 50 participants to receive therapy with or without the writing exercise. The goal is to see if AWARE is acceptable, feasible, and helps patients engage more fully in their treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Adjunctive writing to amplify response and engagement (AWARE)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, low-cost way to make existing PTSD therapies more effective by improving how patients and therapists talk to each other.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study (54 people) testing feasibility and acceptability, not a large-scale trial. The writing exercise may not meaningfully improve outcomes or may not work for everyone.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02130, United States
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