Helping Veterans Manage PTSD Symptoms After Therapy
Official title: Empowering Veterans to Self-Manage PTSD Symptoms Following Completion of Trauma-Focused Therapy
Funded at Minneapolis VA Medical Center · NIH-11199639 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program helps Veterans continue to manage their PTSD symptoms and build on their therapy progress after completing trauma-focused treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Minneapolis VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003301-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11199639 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans who have completed trauma-focused therapy for PTSD and still have remaining treatment needs or wish to continue building on their progress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not yet completed trauma-focused therapy for PTSD or who require intensive, active psychotherapy may not receive direct benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
Many Veterans still need support after finishing trauma-focused therapy for PTSD, even if their symptoms have improved. This program, called EMPOWER, is designed as a step-down from active therapy, offering a therapist-assisted self-management approach. It helps Veterans practice and apply the skills they learned in therapy to maintain or enhance their gains. The goal is to empower Veterans to feel confident in managing their symptoms and reduce their need for frequent mental health services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help Veterans maintain their mental health improvements after therapy and reduce their need for ongoing intensive mental health services.
How similar studies have gone: A prior feasibility test of this program showed promising results, indicating it was acceptable to patients and helped maintain or enhance PTSD gains while reducing mental health service use.
Where this research is happening
-
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kehle-Forbes, Shannon M. — Minneapolis VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kehle-Forbes, Shannon M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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
A study testing whether ketamine can help people with PTSD better relearn and forget fear when given in a guided treatment plan.
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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.
-
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.