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Comparative Effectiveness Research in Veterans With PTSD
Recruiting
I'm InterestedTrial ID: NCT01928732
Purpose
VA Cooperative Study CSP #591 is designed to compare the effectiveness of two types of
psychotherapy, Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), for treating
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in male and female Veterans. Despite solid evidence that
both treatments are effective in Veterans and non-Veterans, there is a lack of evidence about
the effectiveness of these treatments compared with one another.
The sample will include 900 male and female Veterans with PTSD due to any traumatic military
event. Veterans who are eligible and agree to participate in the study will be randomly
assigned (by chance) to receive Prolonged Exposure or Cognitive Processing Therapy. The
standard "dose" of treatment is 12 weekly sessions but Veterans who improve more rapidly may
finish in fewer sessions and Veterans who improve more slowly may have additional sessions.
The primary outcome is improvement in PTSD symptoms after treatment. The outcome will be
measured at regular follow-up visits that will occur at the middle and at the end of
treatment and then 3 and 6 months later. The investigators will measure other outcomes,
including additional mental health problems, functioning, quality of life, and use of
treatments for mental and physical problems. The investigators also will measure Veterans'
treatment preference and examine whether Veterans who get the treatment they prefer do better
than Veterans who get the less-preferred treatment.
As a large multi-site trial with men and women, CSP #591 is designed to provide conclusive
information about whether one treatment is better than the other, overall and for different
types of patients-for example, men vs. women, combat Veterans vs. Veterans who experienced
military sexual trauma, and older vs. younger Veterans. Regardless of the outcome, patients
will have more information to help them make an informed decisions about which treatment to
choose and VA will have stronger evidence to help make care Veteran-centered.
Official Title
CSP #591 - CERV-PTSD: Comparative Effectiveness Research in Veterans With PTSD
Stanford Investigator(s)
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
Current PTSD and symptom severity of 25 or higher on the Clinician- Administered PTSD Scale
(Weathers et al., 2013); agreement to not receive psychotherapy for PTSD during study
treatment and allow digital recording of phone interviews and therapy; regular access to a
telephone (or agreement to come to the VA for centrally conducted telephone interviews for
participant who do not have telephone access). Medication for PTSD and other mental or
physical conditions, psychotherapy for other problems, brief visits with an existing
therapist, and self-help groups will be allowed.
Exclusion Criteria:
- substance dependence not in remission for at least 1 month;
- current psychotic symptoms and mania (including manic phase of bipolar disorder);
- significant current suicidal or homicidal ideation that includes a specific plan;
- or moderate to severe cognitive impairment defined as 1 SD below age-graded norms on
the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.
Intervention(s):
behavioral: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
behavioral: Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Recruiting
I'm InterestedContact Information
Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford,
CA
94305
Steven Lindley, MD
650-493-5000 Ext. 25189