Veterans Telemedicine Outreach for PTSD Services
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: PTSD
In brief
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is considered a major public health problem in the U.S. due to its high prevalence and high rates of disability associated with the disorder. For thousands of veterans, PTSD is a chronic disorder, resulting directly from military service that causes substantial psychological suffering and social disability. Barriers to PTSD care include poor access, mistrust, and lack of benefit from traditional treatments. This project addresses two very important and timely questions. First, can telemedicine be used as a tool to extend effective, specialized mental health services such as, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), to veterans with poor access to care? Second, does therapy delivered by telemedicine effect the quality of care in terms of clinical outcomes (PTSD severity, Quality of Life), and the quality of patient-therapist interaction (patient satisfaction \& communication)? By answering these questions, this study will provide valuable knowledge for VA researchers, clinicians, and policy makers. The study findings will have direct implications related to making specific recommendations regarding telemedicine utilization to deliver specialized mental health services for veterans suffering from PTSD.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00645047
- Run by
- VA Office of Research and Development
- People needed
- 207
- Starts
- 2009-02-01
- Expected to finish
- 2012-04-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2017-04-14
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 99. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Primary diagnosis of chronic PTSD due to combat; co-morbid mood and anxiety disorders are expected, and will be permitted (to maximize generalizability) if PTSD symptoms are judged to be predominant based on primacy and severity of symptoms; the proposed treatment often ameliorates depression and anxiety symptoms;
- age 18 or older; and
- English fluency.
You may not qualify if…
- unmanaged dementia, psychosis or manic episodes in past year;
- substance abuse or alcohol dependence in past year as measured by AUDIT;
- concurrent psychotherapies targeting PTSD or depression (veterans who are engaged in treatment for non-PTSD symptoms, for example, 12-step programs for substance problems, will be eligible);
- severe cardiovascular or respiratory disease that would make it difficult to ensure regular attendance at psychotherapy sessions;
- severe impairments in speech, vision, or hearing; and
- head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness longer than 20 minutes.
Where it is running
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego — San Diego, California, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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