Integrated therapy for PTSD in cardiac patients
Official title: Harnessing Evidence-based Psychotherapies to Develop an Integrated Intervention Targeting Key Psychological Mechanisms of PTSD in Cardiac Patients
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11369407 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A brief, patient-friendly plan to help people who’ve had a serious heart event and now experience PTSD symptoms through an evidence-based, streamlined therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $236,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R34HL180396-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369407 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have had a recent life-threatening heart event and show PTSD symptoms or significant cardiac-related anxiety.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without PTSD symptoms or cardiac-focused anxiety at study entry may see little to no benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to adapt proven therapies for PTSD into a short, practical program for patients who have survived a life-threatening heart event. It will target two main issues: trauma-related fear and cardiac-focused anxiety, using gentle exposure techniques tailored to heart patients. The researchers will test how well this approach works in people with PTSD symptoms after events like ICD implantation, aiming to improve mental health, quality of life, and medical follow-up. The work will be done with patients at the University of California, Los Angeles, over several years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience less PTSD distress, better overall well-being, and fewer medical visits related to anxiety.
How similar studies have gone: Previous PTSD therapies guided by exposure principles have helped other populations, but this cardiac-specific adaptation is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sumner, Jennifer a — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Sumner, Jennifer a
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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.