Easier-to-understand PTSD questionnaires for Veterans
Official title: Patient-Centered Assessment of PTSD
Funded at Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys · NIH-11247488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will make PTSD questionnaires shorter and written in clearer language so Veterans who struggle with medical forms can report their symptoms more easily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I21HX003892-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247488 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Veterans with PTSD or a history of trauma, especially those who find written healthcare materials hard to understand.
✕Less likely to help
People without PTSD, those comfortable with the existing questionnaires, or non-Veterans are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If you take part, you'll be asked to try shorter, plain-language versions of the PTSD Checklist and give feedback on whether the questions make sense. The team will rewrite items to a lower reading level and remove confusing or redundant wording. They'll interview and test Veterans, including those with limited health literacy, to see how well the new version captures symptoms compared with the standard PCL-5. The aim is a questionnaire that is easier to complete while still reflecting your experience of PTSD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans could complete clearer and shorter PTSD questionnaires that improve communication with clinicians and help get appropriate care sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior work has shortened PTSD scales by statistics, but few studies have tested plain-language rewrites for comprehension, so this approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys
Palo Alto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kimerling, Rachel — Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys
- Study coordinator: Kimerling, Rachel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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
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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.
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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.
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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.