New ASL-Based therapy aims to tackle alcohol and trauma in deaf community
NCT ID NCT06278922
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a therapy toolkit called Signs of Safety, designed for Deaf individuals who use American Sign Language and struggle with alcohol use disorder and PTSD. The toolkit adapts an existing therapy (Seeking Safety) to be Deaf-accessible. Researchers compare it to treatment as usual and a no-treatment control group in a nationwide virtual trial involving 144 participants.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Signs of Safety toolkit (behavioral therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this could provide a culturally and linguistically accessible treatment option for Deaf individuals with alcohol use disorder and PTSD, addressing a major health disparity.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small trial (144 participants) testing a behavioral intervention, so results may not generalize widely. The therapy may not outperform usual care or may have limited long-term benefits.
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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
-
University of Massachusetts Medical School
RECRUITINGWorcester, Massachusetts, 01655, United States
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