Improving communication between patients and providers to enhance PTSD treatment outcomes

Enhancing PTSD Treatment Outcomes by Improving Patient-Provider Communication

NIH-funded research Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11051791

This study is looking at a new writing tool called AWARE that helps people with PTSD share their concerns during therapy, to see if it can make their treatment more effective and improve their overall experience.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBoston University Medical Campus NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11051791 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing treatment outcomes for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by improving communication between patients and their therapists. It introduces an innovative writing intervention called AWARE, which aims to address patients' treatment-related concerns during therapy sessions. By integrating health communication strategies, the study seeks to refine this intervention through initial case series and then test its effectiveness in a pilot randomized controlled trial. The goal is to determine if AWARE can lead to better engagement and outcomes in established PTSD treatments like cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are undergoing treatment for PTSD.

Not a fit: Patients who are not currently receiving treatment for PTSD or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment outcomes and reduced dropout rates for patients with PTSD.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that enhancing patient-provider communication can lead to better treatment adherence and outcomes, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.