Brief CBT for anxiety in VA primary care
Official title: A pragmatic trial of brief CBT for anxiety in VA primary care
Funded at Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center · NIH-11301799 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers short, problem-focused cognitive behavioral therapy to Veterans with anxiety in VA primary care, delivered in-clinic or by VA Video Connect at home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX002796-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301799 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans receiving care in VA primary care who have anxiety symptoms or an anxiety disorder and can attend in-person visits or use VA Video Connect at home.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with very severe, complex, or treatment-resistant anxiety, active suicidal risk, or who need longer-term specialty psychotherapy may not benefit from this brief program.
What this research studies
You would be offered a brief, structured CBT program delivered by primary care mental health providers during or connected to your VA primary care visit. The project is a four-year, multisite pragmatic randomized trial that compares delivering the brief CBT in person versus via VA Video Connect–Home. Researchers will track anxiety symptoms, functioning, and how well the therapy can be adopted into routine VA primary care. Findings will be used to guide wider use of quick, accessible anxiety treatments across VA clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give Veterans faster access to effective, shorter CBT for anxiety within primary care and improve day-to-day functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Traditional CBT and telehealth CBT have strong evidence for anxiety, but brief CBT models specifically designed for VA primary care are less tested and this pragmatic approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fletcher, Terri Lynn — Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Fletcher, Terri Lynn
Related research
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Investigating how Medicare's Quality Payment Program affects treatment for depression and anxiety in primary care.
This study looks at how a program that pays doctors affects the way they screen and treat depression and anxiety in older adults on Medicare, with the goal of making it easier for them to get the mental health care they need.
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.