Adding brief family support to PTSD therapy for Veterans
Family Involvement in Treatment for PTSD (FIT-PTSD): A Brief, Feasible Method for Enhancing Outcomes, Retention, and Engagement
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 ID | NIH-11289318 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Boston, United States
- 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
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 below.