Improving PTSD Treatment for People in Substance Use Care
Official title: Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Massed PTSD Treatment in a Community Substance Use Program
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11181643 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to make a proven PTSD treatment more accessible and effective for individuals also receiving care for substance use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $708,672 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132720-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181643 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals experiencing both PTSD and substance use disorder who are currently participating in or seeking intensive outpatient substance use treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder, or who are not interested in a massed treatment format, may not find this particular approach beneficial.
What this research studies
Many people experience both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD), and treating both at the same time is very important. While a treatment called Prolonged Exposure (PE) is known to help with PTSD, it's often hard for people with SUD to access or complete it. This project will explore offering PE in a 'massed' format, meaning multiple sessions per week, within intensive outpatient substance use programs. The goal is to see if this approach can help more people attend and benefit from PTSD treatment, leading to better overall recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve how PTSD is treated for individuals also managing substance use, potentially leading to better mental health and recovery outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a well-established and effective treatment for PTSD, and massed PE has shown promise in improving attendance and outcomes compared to weekly sessions.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hien, Denise Aimee — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Hien, Denise Aimee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (brief trauma treatment)
A brief trauma-focused therapy called Written Exposure Therapy is being studied to help veterans who have both PTSD and substance use disorders.
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Web-based training to treat PTSD and substance use together in Veterans
A web-based training resource helps VA clinicians learn how to provide integrated treatment for Veterans with both PTSD and substance use disorders.
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Genetics of PTSD and Substance Use in Diverse Populations
This grant investigates how genes influence PTSD and substance use disorders in diverse groups to improve prevention and treatment.
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Massed PTSD Treatment in a Community Substance Use Program
A community program will test a faster, intensified PTSD treatment delivered alongside substance use care to help people with both conditions.
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Using Written Exposure Therapy to help Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
This study is looking at how helpful Written Exposure Therapy can be for Veterans dealing with both PTSD and substance use issues, especially for those in rural areas who might not have easy access to care, to see if it can make their treatment better and improve their quality of life.
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Online training for clinicians to deliver COPE, a combined PTSD and substance-use therapy
This project offers web training to teach VA clinicians how to deliver COPE, a combined Prolonged Exposure therapy for Veterans with PTSD and substance use problems.
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.