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Evaluating Supplementing Residential Substance Use Treatment With Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
NCT05536908 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) are highly comorbid, and comorbidity increases risk for poor functional outcomes. Risks for poor quality of life and suicide increase further for those with co-occurring PTSD and SUD diagnoses as compared to either condition alone, with suicide attempt rates three times higher for Veterans with alcohol use disorder and PTSD (Norman, Haller, Hamblen, Southwick \& Pietrzak, 2018). For patients with PTSD-SUD, there is evidence of greater PTSD symptom severity and poorer SUD treatment outcomes (e.g., Back et al., 2000), as well as higher rates of homelessness and disability (Bowe \& Rosenheck, 2015). PTSD-SUD treatments have shown promising reductions in PTSD and SUD symptoms (Flanagan, Korte, Killeen \& Back,2016). Yet, there are still major challenges in widely implementing concurrent or single-target gold-standard treatments for this population, especially with rural veterans where care access may be limited (e.g., Flanagan et al., 2016). Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is a front-line, brief and effective treatment for PTSD that addresses some of the challenges posed by other gold-standard treatments. This project is designed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) delivered to Veterans with comorbid PTSD-SUD while they are completing a 28 day-residential SUD program (DOM SUD). The preliminary effects of the treatment during the program, and at one month and 3-month follow-up periods will also be examined, with particular attention to rates of substance use, homelessness, treatment attendance, treatment completion, quality of life, suicidality, and PTSD and depression symptoms. Veterans enrolled in the residential substance use disorder clinic will be recruited for screening into the study. Those that meet criteria for PTSD will be randomized into one of two treatment arms: Treatment as Usual (TAU: DOM SUD) and Written Exposure Therapy in a residential SUD pro
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- BEHAVIORAL Treatment as Usual
- BEHAVIORAL Residential Written Exposure Therapy
Study Locations (1)
Virginia
- Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA — Salem
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 56 participants |
| Start Date | 2023-06-22 |
| Est. Completion | 2026-01-15 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT05536908
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT05536908 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 56 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is VA Office of Research and Development, which has 1,863 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 2 conditions, with PTSD appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 2 interventions — of which Treatment as Usual is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT05536908 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Virginia. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT05536908 about?
NCT05536908 is a clinical study titled "Evaluating Supplementing Residential Substance Use Treatment With Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUD)". Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) are highly comorbid, and comorbidity increases risk for poor functional outcomes. Risks for poor quality of life and suicide increase further for those with co-occurring PTSD and SUD diagnoses as compared to either condition alone...
What is the current status of trial NCT05536908?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 56 participants. The study started on 2023-06-22. Estimated completion is 2026-01-15.
What conditions does trial NCT05536908 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: PTSD, Substance Use Disorders. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT05536908?
The interventions under investigation include: Treatment as Usual (BEHAVIORAL), Residential Written Exposure Therapy (BEHAVIORAL). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT05536908?
This trial is sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development, which has 1,863 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT05536908 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Virginia. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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