Clinician-supported mobile app to boost social support for Veterans with PTSD
Official title: A Clinician-Facilitated Intervention to Integrate a Mobile Health App in Mental Health Care to Improve the Social Support of Veterans with PTSD
Funded at Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital · NIH-11388786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinician-supported mobile app called ACTsocial is tested to help Veterans with PTSD build social connections and reduce isolation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bedford, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I21HX003985-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with PTSD who are receiving mental health care and have access to a smartphone and the ACTsocial app.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans without access to a smartphone or who do not engage with digital tools may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on integrating ACTsocial into Veterans' mental health care by exploring how providers can support its use. It will examine how easily clinics can adopt the app, whether clinicians and staff find it acceptable and feasible, and whether there are early signs that it helps Veterans feel more connected and less isolated. The study includes developing a provider-support guide and piloting the app in real clinical settings to collect initial data on outcomes related to social support and well-being. If successful, it could lead to a scalable, digital way to enhance social resources for Veterans with PTSD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans with PTSD may experience improved social support and less isolation through easier access to a practical digital tool.
How similar studies have gone: Digital interventions for PTSD show promise, and provider-supported digital tools have begun to demonstrate feasibility and acceptability in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
Bedford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelly, Megan Marie — Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kelly, Megan Marie
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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.