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PTSD Coach App Evaluation
Not Recruiting
Trial ID: NCT02445196
Purpose
PTSD Coach is a mobile application (app) that aims to teach individuals self-management
strategies for symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a major public
health concern. Although effective treatments exist, affected individuals face many barriers
to receiving traditional care. As smartphones are now carried by more than half of the U.S.
population, they have the potential to overcome many of these barriers by delivering
self-help interventions on apps. Despite PTSD Coach's use of evidence-based cognitive
behavioral strategies there is still a need to test the effectiveness of the app in managing
PTSD symptoms. This controlled, two-arm, randomized (1:1) trial will evaluate the efficacy,
feasibility and acceptability of PTSD Coach to reduce PTSD symptoms in a community sample of
trauma survivors with PTSD symptoms. After completing an eligibility phone screen or online
screen, individuals who score a 35 or above on the PTSD Checklist (PCL) and consent will
complete a baseline assessment and then be randomized to the PTSD Coach app condition or a
waitlist control group. Additionally, those assigned to the PTSD Coach intervention will be
instructed to download a research version of the app, called PTSD Explorer, that enables
passive and objective monitoring of app use. Each individual will be reassessed at
post-intervention (3 months) and follow-up (3 months later, or 6 months after completing
baseline). The investigators predict that those using the PTSD Coach app will demonstrate a
significant and sustained reduction in PTSD symptoms and increase in patient coping
self-efficacy compared to the waitlist control group. The investigators will explore if there
is a relationship between levels of engagement and PTSD symptom change.
Official Title
PTSD Coach App Evaluation
Stanford Investigator(s)
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Experienced or witnessed an extremely traumatic event that involved actual or
threatened death or serious injury to you or someone else. Event must have occurred
more than 1 month ago.
2. Significant PTSD symptoms. Total PTSD Checklist Score ≥ 35.
3. Have a smartphone or smart device that can download apps (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or
android phone or tablet).
4. English is the primary language.
5. Available for the next 6 months to participate in the study and use smart device.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Unable to give informed consent.
2. Is currently receiving mental health treatment.
3. Currently participating in other PTSD-related research studies
Intervention(s):
behavioral: PTSD Coach
device: Smartphone
Not Recruiting
Contact Information
Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford,
CA
94305