Written Exposure in Substance Treatment

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Substance Use Disorders

In brief

The purpose of this pilot randomized clinical trial is to test the feasibility and efficacy of written exposure therapy (WET) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within the context of residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. All participants meet criteria for PTSD and are in a short term residential SUD treatment program (target residential treatment duration = 28 days) regardless of the research. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1) Is the delivery of WET feasible in short term residential SUD treatment for individuals with severe SUD; 2) Do participants in the TAU+WET condition have greater reductions in PTSD symptoms pre/post treatment compared to participants in TAU alone?

Key facts

Study ID: NCT06296940
Run by: Potomac Health Foundations
People needed: 50
Starts: 2022-12-01
Expected to finish: 2024-05-31
Last updated by the study team: 2025-06-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

At least 18 years old
Fluent in English
Cognitively able to provide consent to the research
Enrolled in inpatient treatment at the clinical site where the research takes place
Meet criteria for probable PTSD based on PCL-5 score
Be early enough in their residential stay to allow time to complete the WET protocol
Have a clear memory of the traumatic event so they are able to write about itin detail

You may not qualify if…

Reports significant suicidal or homicidal ideation with intent, untreated psychosis, or have other health limitations that may interfere with their ability to participate in the research

Where it is running

Maryland Treatment Centers — Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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