Adaptive PTSD Therapy for Opioid Addiction Patients
Official title: Adaptive Interventions for Co-Occurring OUD and PTSD
Funded at Rand Corporation · NIH-11402561 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study is testing a flexible PTSD treatment approach that can be delivered in primary care and by community health workers to people with opioid use disorder and co-occurring PTSD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rand Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Monica, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $410,221 |
| NIH project number | 5R61DA061327-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402561 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder who also have PTSD and are receiving or seeking treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without PTSD or without OUD may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project will explore how to best provide trauma-focused therapy to people with opioid use disorder in real-world settings. It will test whether Written Exposure Therapy can be feasibly delivered by community health workers and determine the best timing for PTSD treatment alongside addiction care. The study will compare fully collaborative care to referral-based care to see which approach supports better engagement and outcomes. Results will guide scalable practices that reduce wait times and dropout while improving both PTSD and OUD symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could access effective PTSD treatment alongside their addiction care in more places and with less wait time.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research supports Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD and collaborative care models; this study tests their integration in OUD clinics, which is a relatively novel combination.
Where this research is happening
-
Rand Corporation
Santa Monica, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Watkins, Katherine E — Rand Corporation
- Study coordinator: Watkins, Katherine E
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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.