Helping Frontline Healthcare Workers with COVID-Related PTSD Symptoms
Reducing COVID-related PTSD symptoms in Frontline Healthcare Workers through Trauma-Focused Treatment in Employee Assistance Programs
This project offers a focused treatment through employee assistance programs to help healthcare workers recover from post-traumatic stress after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131284 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many healthcare workers faced immense stress and trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While employee assistance programs (EAPs) offer support, they often lack the resources for intensive PTSD treatments. This project adapts a proven, brief therapy called Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC) to be delivered within existing EAPs. Our goal is to see if this shorter, focused treatment can effectively reduce COVID-19-related PTSD symptoms and improve daily functioning for these essential workers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are frontline healthcare workers experiencing PTSD symptoms related to their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not a fit: Patients whose PTSD is not related to COVID-19 experiences or who are not frontline healthcare workers may not directly benefit from this specific program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a scalable and cost-effective way for healthcare workers to access effective PTSD treatment, improving their well-being and ability to work.
How similar studies have performed: A similar brief treatment has shown effectiveness in military service members, suggesting promise for this adapted approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sripada, Rebecca Kaufman — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Sripada, Rebecca Kaufman
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.