Helping Veterans start and stick with recommended PTSD treatments
Official title: Improving Care for Veterans by Understanding and Facilitating Transition to Recommended PTSD Treatment
Funded at Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco · NIH-11193232 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try ways to help Veterans with PTSD begin and stay in recommended therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2HX003339-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193232 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are post-9/11 Veterans diagnosed with PTSD who receive care through the VA and may be offered or considering PTSD therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans who do not receive care in the VA or those without PTSD are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
From a Veteran's point of view, the team will look at how PTSD care is currently given in the VA, focusing on common sequences of treatment such as early 'stabilization' steps that often come before trauma-focused therapy. They will use VA clinical records and implementation methods to see which treatment paths make it more or less likely that a Veteran starts CPT or PE. The researchers will identify practical barriers and test approaches to improve engagement and retention in these recommended therapies. The goal is to develop changes that VA clinics can use to help more Veterans access guideline-recommended PTSD care and reduce disparities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help more Veterans access and benefit from effective PTSD therapies and improve recovery and functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts widely spread CPT and PE within the VA but uptake has been low, and studies specifically on stabilization sequencing are limited, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holder, Nicholas — Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Holder, Nicholas
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.