Cognitive therapy for addiction and trauma in prisons
Official title: Effectiveness, Implementation, and Cost of Cognitive Processing Therapy in Prisons
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11195580 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well a special group therapy can help people in prison deal with drug use and mental health issues after they get out, comparing it to self-help methods to see which works better in a prison setting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $658,152 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059549-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195580 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are currently incarcerated and experiencing substance use disorders or posttraumatic stress symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not incarcerated or do not have substance use disorders or trauma-related symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a group-delivered Cognitive Processing Therapy adapted for criminal justice settings, aimed at reducing post-incarceration drug use and mental health symptoms among individuals in prison. The study will compare this therapy to individual self-help methods, assessing its feasibility and acceptability within the prison environment. By focusing on the high prevalence of trauma and substance use disorders in incarcerated populations, the research seeks to implement a structured intervention that could lead to better outcomes for these individuals post-release.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce drug use, mental health issues, and crime rates among formerly incarcerated individuals.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically on this adapted therapy in prisons, similar cognitive therapies have shown promise in treating trauma and addiction in other settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zielinski, Melissa Jean — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Zielinski, Melissa Jean
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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.