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Comparing Therapies for PTSD from Military Sexual Trauma

This study is comparing two types of talk therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that resulted from Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The therapies are called Exposure Therapy (ET) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). Researchers want to see if one therapy works better than the other, or if they are equally effective, in helping people recover from PTSD. You may be able to join if you are 18 to 85 years old, speak English, and have PTSD due to MST. The main goal is to see how much your PTSD symptoms improve after treatment, using a score called the CAPS-5. The study aims to enroll 208 participants.

Study design
This study is comparing two different behavioral therapies. It plans to include 208 participants.
What's involved
You would receive either Interpersonal Psychotherapy for 15 weeks or Exposure Therapy for 11 weeks. Your PTSD symptoms will be measured at the beginning and after treatment.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your PTSD symptoms will be measured at the end of your treatment, which is either 11 or 15 weeks after starting.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT03803332

A Trial Comparing Interpersonal Therapy to Exposure Therapy for PTSD Due to Military Sexual Trauma (MST) in Male and Female Military Personnel

Recruiting
NAAges 18–85InterventionalTreatment
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
~208 participants
Updated 2026-04-16 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Exposure TherapyInterpersonal Psychotherapy

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Difference in mean Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-5 (CAPS-5) score changes between the Exposure Therapy (ET) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) treatment groups from baseline to post-treatment
Measured over Baseline, 15 weeks in the IPT condition, 11 weeks in the ET condition
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

PTSD

Explore related trials

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New York1

Study leadership

  • JoAnn Difede, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Who to contact

Olivia Baryluk, BS
[email protected]
212-821-0783
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

English-speaking
Military Sexual Trauma (MST) survivors, with MST defined as actual or threatened sexual violence, from Vietnam era to current Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn
Diagnosed with PTSD consequent to MST, with a minimum CAPS score \> 40
Medically stable at time of study enrollment (for persons with chronic injuries and that any disability present does not prevent attendance of weekly outpatient therapy sessions)
Ability to provide informed consent and function at an intellectual level sufficient to allow accurate completion of all assessment instruments
Stable on psychotropic medication for the prior 60 days

Exclusion

Lifetime or current diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder
Participation in a clinical trial or concurrent evidence-based treatment for MST-related psychiatric conditions or PTSD during the previous 3 months
Current evidence of significant unstable medical illness or organic brain impairment such that the patient could not attend sessions regularly or complete assessments
Patients who in the investigator's judgment pose a current homicidal or suicidal risk
Current or history of substance dependence in the past 90 days.

What this trial measures

  • Difference in mean Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-5 (CAPS-5) score changes between the Exposure Therapy (ET) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) treatment groups from baseline to post-treatmentBaseline, 15 weeks in the IPT condition, 11 weeks in the ET condition

    The CAPS-5 is used for rating the severity of PTSD symptoms. Scores range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating greater PTSD severity

  • Change in CAPS-5 scores from baseline to post-treatment for the ET treatment groupBaseline, 11 weeks

    The CAPS-5 is used for rating the severity of PTSD symptoms. Scores range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating greater PTSD severity

  • Change in CAPS-5 scores from baseline to post-treatment for the IPT treatment groupBaseline, 15 weeks

    The CAPS-5 is used for rating the severity of PTSD symptoms. Scores range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating greater PTSD severity