Adding brief family support to PTSD therapy for Veterans
Official title: Family Involvement in Treatment for PTSD (FIT-PTSD): A Brief, Feasible Method for Enhancing Outcomes, Retention, and Engagement
Funded at VA Boston Health Care System · NIH-11289318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Two short sessions will teach a family member how to support a Veteran starting CPT or PE to help reduce PTSD symptoms and keep the Veteran in therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX002339-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11289318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans starting a course of CPT or PE at one of the participating VA clinics who can bring a willing family member or support person.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans who are not receiving CPT or PE or who do not have a family member willing to participate are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this program.
What this research studies
If you are a Veteran beginning standard PTSD therapy (Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure), you and a family member would be invited to join this program. The family member would be randomized to receive two brief psychoeducation and skills sessions or not, while the Veteran receives usual care. PTSD symptoms and whether Veterans stay in therapy will be measured at several visits over about six months. Independent evaluators will collect symptom and retention data at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 26 weeks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding brief family sessions could cut dropout from PTSD therapy and produce larger reductions in PTSD symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Early testing found about 50% less dropout and a large improvement in PTSD symptoms at 16 weeks, but this larger trial will confirm those results.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Boston Health Care System
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson-Hollands, Johanna — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Thompson-Hollands, Johanna
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.