Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Memory Support (MS) Study for PTSD
This study is testing a new way to improve Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CPT is a common therapy, and this study adds "Memory Support" (MS) to it. MS uses techniques like categorization and practice to help you remember important therapy content better. Researchers want to see if adding MS helps people learn and remember CPT more effectively. You might be able to join if you are 18 or older, have a current PTSD diagnosis, and if you're on psychiatric medication, your dose has been stable for at least four weeks. The study will measure how well you remember therapy content at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment.
- Study design
- This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 100 participants. It is a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing CPT with Memory Support (CPT+MS) to CPT alone.
- What's involved
- You would attend 12 weekly one-hour CPT sessions, which can be in-person or via videoconferencing, over a maximum of 18 weeks.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your memory of therapy content will be assessed at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Memory Support (MS) Study
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Joseph Carpenter, PhD MA · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · VA Boston Healthcare System, BUSM Psychiatry Dept.
Who to contact
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Do you actually qualify for this trial?
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Inclusion
Exclusion
What this trial measures
- Mid-treatment Memory of therapy content assessed by the Therapy Recall Task6 weeks
The Therapy Recall Task involves participants writing down as many distinct "treatment points" as they can in a 10-minute period. Treatment points are defined as insights, skills, or strategies they think are important to remember or implement as part of their therapy. Responses are scored based on the number of distinct treatment points described.
- Post-treatment Memory of therapy content assessed by the Therapy Recall Task12 weeks
The Therapy Recall Task involves participants writing down as many distinct "treatment points" as they can in a 10-minute period. Treatment points are defined as insights, skills, or strategies they think are important to remember or implement as part of their therapy. Responses are scored based on the number of distinct treatment points described.
- Follow-up Memory of therapy content assessed by the Therapy Recall Task6 months
The Therapy Recall Task involves participants writing down as many distinct "treatment points" as they can in a 10-minute period. Treatment points are defined as insights, skills, or strategies they think are important to remember or implement as part of their therapy. Responses are scored based on the number of distinct treatment points described.
- Feasibility assessed by mean CPT Adherence12 weeks
CPT adherence is defined as the portion of CPT protocol elements completed across therapy sessions, rated from 0-100%. This will be assessed via observer ratings of a random selection of 25% of tapes/session recordings from each treatment condition using the CPT Therapist Adherence and Competence Protocol - Revised. Completion of ≥ 90% mean adherence to protocol elements indicates high CPT adherence, and would be an indicator of feasibility of CPT+MS.
- Feasibility assessed by mean CPT Competence12 weeks
CPT competence will be assessed via observer ratings of a random selection of 25% of tapes/session recordings from each treatment condition of the competence with which CPT protocol elements are delivered, rated from 1 (poor) to 7 (excellent). This will be assessed via observer ratings of a random selection of session recordings using the CPT Therapist Adherence and Competence Protocol - Revised. A mean skill rating of "good" or higher (≥5 on a 7-point Likert scale) on protocol elements indicates high CPT competence, and would be an indicator of feasibility of CPT+MS.
- Feasibility assessed by the Memory Support Rating Scale (MSRS)12 weeks
The Memory Support Rating Scale (MSRS) is an an observer-rated scale used to measure the type and frequency of Memory Support strategies used. A greater number of Memory Support strategies used in the CPT+MS condition compared to CPT will indicate feasibility of CPT+MS. A random selection of 25% of tapes from each treatment condition will be assessed to derive the mean Memory Support strategies used.
- Treatment acceptability after Session 1 assessed by the Credibility and Expectancy (CEQ) questionnaire1 week
The CEQ is a 6-item questionnaire that assesses how credible participants think the treatment they are receiving is and how much they expect to benefit, measured after the initial treatment session. The potential range of scores is 6 to 54 and higher scores indicating greater treatment credibility/acceptability.
- Mid-treatment acceptability assessed by the Working Alliance Inventory Short-Revised (WAI-R)6 weeks
The WAI-R is a 12-item self-report questionnaire that measures three aspects of the therapeutic alliance: agreement on tasks, agreement on goals, and affective bond with the therapist. The potential range of scores is 12 to 60 and higher scores indicate stronger therapeutic alliance/treatment acceptability.
- Post-treatment acceptability assessed by the Working Alliance Inventory Short-Revised (WAI-R)12 weeks
The WAI-R is a 12-item self-report questionnaire that measures three aspects of the therapeutic alliance: agreement on tasks, agreement on goals, and affective bond with the therapist. The potential range of scores is 12 to 60 and higher scores indicate stronger therapeutic alliance/treatment acceptability.
- Mid-treatment client satisfaction assessed by the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)6 weeks
The CSQ is an 8-item self-report questionnaire that assesses client satisfaction with the treatment they received. The potential range of scores is 8 to 32 and higher scores suggest greater client satisfaction/treatment acceptability.
- Post-treatment client satisfaction assessed by the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)12 weeks
The CSQ is an 8-item self-report questionnaire that assesses client satisfaction with the treatment they received. The potential range of scores is 8 to 32 and higher scores suggest greater client satisfaction/treatment acceptability.