Testing a new therapy for pregnant women with PTSD delivered by community health workers
A Non-Inferiority Trial Testing Delivery of Written Exposure Therapy by Community Health Workers for Treatment of PTSD During Pregnancy
This study is looking at how well a short writing therapy can help pregnant women with PTSD feel better, and it will train community health workers to provide this support while comparing it to another therapy to see which works best in real-life situations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10885997 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for pregnant women suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It aims to train community health workers to deliver this brief, five-session therapy, which has shown promise in reducing PTSD symptoms. The study will compare WET to an active control therapy to determine its effectiveness in a real-world obstetric setting. By addressing barriers such as stigma and workforce shortages, this research seeks to improve mental health care access for pregnant women.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women experiencing PTSD, particularly those from low-income and racial or ethnic minority backgrounds.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or do not have PTSD may not receive any benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide an effective and accessible treatment option for pregnant women with PTSD, potentially improving their mental health and pregnancy outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that Written Exposure Therapy is effective in treating PTSD, suggesting that this approach may yield positive results in this specific population.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nillni, Yael I — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Nillni, Yael I
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 below.