PTSD Treatment for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness to Improve Function
Official title: PTSD Treatment for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness to Improve Functional Outcomes
Funded at Baltimore VA Medical Center · NIH-11310865 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pilot program tests a PTSD treatment adapted for veterans who also have serious mental illness to see if it’s usable and acceptable and could improve daily functioning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baltimore VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2RX004272-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11310865 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with PTSD and a diagnosed serious mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder or psychosis) who are receiving care within the VHA system.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without PTSD or without a coexisting serious mental illness may not experience direct benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on veterans with PTSD who also experience serious mental illness like bipolar disorder or psychotic symptoms. It will start with a small pre-pilot to understand how cultural identity aspects fit into the WET treatment. Then it will run a pilot randomized trial with 48 participants to check feasibility, fidelity, and initial clinical and functional outcomes. A thorough process evaluation will help identify what adjustments are needed to optimize the approach for this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could become a culturally informed PTSD treatment option that improves functioning for veterans with SMI.
How similar studies have gone: Previous EBPs for PTSD have not been extensively tested in veterans with comorbid SMI, making this a novel but promising step.
Where this research is happening
-
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Howell, Mary Katherine — Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Howell, Mary Katherine
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.