Adapting PTSD Treatments to Improve Keeping Veterans in Care
Official title: Adapting Treatment Delivery to Improve Retention in Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment
Funded at Durham VA Medical Center · NIH-11423366 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests delivering PTSD therapies more frequently in a condensed schedule to help Veterans stay in treatment and finish proven therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Durham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2HX003539-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423366 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with PTSD who are receiving evidence-based therapies like CPT or Prolonged Exposure within the VHA.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who prefer longer, less frequent sessions or who have scheduling or health constraints that prevent massed therapy.
What this research studies
This project looks at changing how PTSD therapies are delivered to Veterans receiving care at the VHA. It will compare a massed format, with three or more therapy sessions each week, to standard scheduling to see if retention improves. The study uses a feasibility randomized design and also asks stakeholders about their views on massed therapy delivery and potential barriers. If successful, it could pave the way for larger trials and wider adoption in VA settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans may complete effective PTSD therapies more often, leading to better symptoms and fewer healthcare visits.
How similar studies have gone: Prior massed treatment approaches outside VA show promise for retention, but evidence in VA settings is limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wells, Stephanie — Durham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wells, Stephanie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how PTSD affects self-control and brain function
Researchers are studying how PTSD changes the brain’s control over thoughts and actions, and how this might affect Veterans’ daily lives and responses to treatment.
-
Ketamine to boost fear extinction and memory on PTSD patients
A study testing whether ketamine can help people with PTSD better relearn and forget fear when given in a guided treatment plan.
-
Treating PTSD and opioid use disorder in residential care with Written Exposure Therapy (WEST)
A short, patient-friendly plan to adapt a proven PTSD therapy for people with opioid use disorder in residential treatment and test its practicality and impact.
-
Dynamic PTSD-Related Cognitive Risk in Aging WTC Responders
This project follows World Trade Center responders as they age to understand how PTSD symptoms relate to changes in thinking skills over time.
-
Identifying brain proteins linked to PTSD and alcohol use disorder
Researchers are studying brain proteins that may contribute to PTSD and alcohol use disorder in US veterans to find new ways to help people who struggle with both conditions.
-
Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy for Veterans with Social Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms
A clinical trial tests whether a flexible brain-behavior therapy helps veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms feel better and engage more in daily life.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.