Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD
(TREAT Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores a therapy called Written Exposure Therapy to assist people with PTSD, a condition affecting emotions, sleep, and daily life. Participants will engage in writing exercises about their trauma and undergo tests like EEGs (which measure brain activity) and sleep tracking to observe changes during treatment. The researchers aim to identify patterns in brain activity and sleep that indicate who might benefit most from this therapy. Individuals who have experienced trauma and currently exhibit PTSD symptoms may be well-suited for this trial.
As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could enhance PTSD treatments.
Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?
Research has shown that Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is generally safe for people with PTSD. Studies have found that most individuals tolerate it well, with few dropping out. For instance, one study reported that only 6% of participants left the treatment early, indicating that most can complete the therapy sessions without major issues.
WET has also proven helpful for individuals with mood disorders and substance use issues. Reports of serious side effects are rare. Overall, WET appears to be a safe option for treating PTSD, with many successfully completing the therapy.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Unlike the standard treatments for PTSD, which often involve medication or lengthy talk therapy, Written Exposure Therapy (WET) provides a streamlined approach. This therapy focuses on structured writing exercises that help patients process traumatic experiences over just five sessions. Researchers are excited about WET because it offers a potentially faster and more accessible way to reduce PTSD symptoms, with the added benefit of requiring less time commitment from patients. The hope is that this method could make effective PTSD treatment more widely available and less intimidating for those seeking help.
What evidence suggests that Written Exposure Therapy might be an effective treatment for PTSD?
Research has shown that Written Exposure Therapy (WET), which participants in this trial may receive, can help lessen PTSD symptoms by having participants write about their traumatic experiences. In earlier studies, patients experienced significant improvements in PTSD symptoms after completing WET sessions, including better emotional health and daily functioning. The therapy is designed to be brief and focused, making it a convenient option for many people. While more research is needed to fully understand its effects on brain activity and sleep, early results are promising.678910
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults diagnosed with PTSD. Participants should be able to take part in writing sessions and assessments, and must not have conditions that would prevent them from completing the study.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants complete five weekly writing sessions, either Written Exposure Therapy or a neutral writing condition, with EEG and actigraphy assessments
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in EEG and sleep measures, and PTSD symptoms are assessed post-intervention
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Written Exposure Therapy
Trial Overview
The study compares Written Exposure Therapy (writing about traumatic experiences) to a neutral writing activity over five weeks. Brain activity (EEG), sleep patterns, and PTSD symptoms are measured before, during, and after treatment.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Participants assigned to this arm will complete five weekly Written Exposure Therapy sessions. In each session, participants will complete structured writing exercises focused on a traumatic experience. EEG, actigraphy, and clinical assessments will be collected at scheduled time points before treatment, during the five-week intervention period, and after treatment.
Participants assigned to this arm will complete five weekly neutral writing sessions that do not involve trauma-focused exposure. EEG, actigraphy, and clinical assessments will be collected at scheduled time points before the intervention, during the five-week intervention period, and after the intervention.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Mclean Hospital
Lead Sponsor
Citations
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State of the Science: Written Exposure Therapy for the ... - PMC
Specifically, Sloan and colleagues (2018) reported that, in a sample of civilians with PTSD, 6% of participants assigned to receive WET dropped out, whereas 39% ...
Group Written Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress ...
We hypothesize that group WET will be associated with significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and related symptoms and low dropout rates (i.e., less than 10%).
Written exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder ...
Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD is effective in residential substance use care. · 75% of participants completed all 5 WET sessions. · WET enhanced usual ...
Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD - PTSD: National ...
Findings to date indicate WET is safe and effective for PTSD patients with comorbid mood disorder symptoms, (17,25,27-30) substance use disorders, (31,32), ...
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uptodate.com
uptodate.com/contents/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-in-adults-psychotherapy-and-psychosocial-interventions/printPosttraumatic stress disorder in adults: Psychotherapy and ...
Written exposure therapy was reported to be noninferior to prolonged exposure therapy with less attrition [9]. The primary outcome was the ...
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