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Family Involvement in PTSD Treatment for Veterans

This study is testing a new approach called Brief Family Intervention (BFI) to help Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). BFI is a short, two-session program that involves a family member to provide support and skills. The goal is to see if involving family can improve treatment results, help Veterans stay in treatment, and make them more engaged. You might be able to join if you are a Veteran with a PTSD diagnosis, are willing to have a family member participate, and have recently started or are about to start Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD. The study will measure changes in your PTSD symptoms and how well you complete treatment after 26 weeks.

Study design
This study plans to enroll 200 participants. It is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific treatment.
What's involved
Participants will receive a 2-session family intervention. The study will measure outcomes at Week 26.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 26 weeks after starting the intervention.

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

NCT05267665

Family Involvement in Treatment for PTSD (FIT-PTSD): A Brief, Feasible Method for Enhancing Outcomes, Retention, and Engagement

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~200 participants
Updated 2026-03-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Brief Family Intervention (BFI)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
3 of 3 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)
Measured over Week 26
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Explore related trials

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Where it's being run

3 sites across 3 states
Massachusetts1
North Carolina1
Ohio1

Study leadership

  • Johanna Thompson-Hollands, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA

Who to contact

Johanna Thompson-Hollands, PhD
[email protected]
(857) 364-2067
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

a current DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD
Veteran status
willing to have a family member involved in the study
has recently begun or is currently initiating individual CPT or PE (completed no more than 3 sessions of the protocol at the time of the baseline assessment)
If taking psychotropic medication, the Veteran must be on a stable dose for at least 30 days.
age 18 or older, family member of the Veteran (significant other, parent, adult child, sibling, etc.)
currently having frequent contact with the Veteran (three or more times per week)

Exclusion

current engagement in couple/family treatment with the identified family member participant
current severe substance use disorder (mild/moderate use disorders will not be excluded; any level of nicotine or caffeine use disorder accepted)
current psychosis or unstable bipolar disorder diagnosis
high suicidal risk
significant cognitive impairment
same as listed for Veterans. Additionally
family members will NOT be permitted to participate if they meet criteria for current PTSD

What this trial measures

  • Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)Week 26

    Severity of PTSD symptoms. Minimum score is 0 (best possible, no symptoms) and maximum score is 80 (worst possible, highest symptoms).

  • Adequate treatment doseWeek 26

    Categorical evaluation of whether the participant received 8 or more on-protocol sessions of CPT or PE during their 26-week study participation period. Possible scores are 0 (meaning \<8 sessions received; this is considered a poor outcome) or 1 (meaning 8 or more sessions received; this is considered a good outcome).

  • Treatment dropoutWeek 26

    Categorical evaluation of whether the participant dropped out of treatment early. Possible scores are 0 (meaning participant did not drop out of treatment early; this is considered a good outcome) or 1 (meaning participant did drop out of treatment early; this is considered a poor outcome).