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Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD and Substance Use Disorder

This study is looking at how well a type of talk therapy called Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) works for veterans who have both Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Researchers want to see if having PE sessions multiple times a week (massed format) is as helpful as having them once a week. The study will measure changes in PTSD symptoms using a tool called CAPS-5, and track substance use over time. You might be able to join if you are a veteran aged 18 or older, served after September 2001, are in an intensive outpatient program for SUD at a participating VA, and have both PTSD and SUD. The study aims to enroll 200 participants.

Study design
This interventional study is comparing two ways of delivering Prolonged Exposure Therapy: multiple sessions per week versus once per week. It aims to enroll 200 participants.
What's involved
You would participate in Prolonged Exposure Therapy sessions, either weekly or multiple times per week. Your PTSD symptoms and substance use will be measured at 4, 16, 28, and 40 weeks after your first therapy session.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 40 weeks after their first therapy session to measure PTSD symptoms and substance use.

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

NCT06296186

Massed Prolonged Exposure for PTSD in Substance Use Treatment

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
Veterans Medical Research Foundation
~200 participants
Updated 2026-08-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Prolonged Exposure Therapy

At a glance

Recruiting sites
6 of 6 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 At 4-, 16-, 28-, and 40-weeks post-first therapy session
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Substance Use Disorders

Explore related trials

Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderSubstance use disorder

Where it's being run

6 sites across 6 states
California1
Florida1
Georgia1
Illinois1
Louisiana1
Ohio1

Study leadership

  • Shannon Kehle-Forbes, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Minnesota

Who to contact

Sonya Norman, PhD
[email protected]
858-518-8266
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Veterans
age 18+
who have served since September 2001
who are enrolled in a SUD IOP at a participating VA
meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD
report substance use at least 20 of the last 90 days
are able to give informed consent.

Exclusion

severe cognitive impairment
current suicidal or homicidal intent requiring immediate treatment
current unstable psychotic or manic symptoms not attributable to SUD

What this trial measures

  • Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)At 4-, 16-, 28-, and 40-weeks post-first therapy session

    Measures PTSD symptom severity, score range 0-80, higher scores mean greater symptom severity

  • Time Line Follow back (TLFB)At 4-, 16-, 28-, and 40-weeks post-first therapy session

    Measures percent days of alcohol or other drug use, score range 0-100%, higher scores indicate greater percent days of use

  • Psychotherapy Completion Rates16 weeks

    Percent of participants completing all sessions of psychotherapy, range is 0-100%, higher number means greater percent completed therapy