Trauma Recovery with Brain Signals During Written Therapy
Official title: Trauma Recovery via EEG and Actigraphy Tracking (TREAT): Biomarkers of Written Exposure Therapy in PTSD
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11427453 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at McLean Hospital will track brain activity and sleep patterns to find biomarkers that reflect how Written Exposure Therapy helps people with PTSD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $819,998 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH145639-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11427453 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with PTSD who are undergoing Written Exposure Therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not respond to WET or cannot participate in EEG/sleep monitoring may not benefit from these biomarkers.
What this research studies
This project follows adults with PTSD as they undergo Written Exposure Therapy and uses portable EEG and sleep monitoring to see which brain signals change alongside symptom improvements. Researchers will compare brain and sleep data before and after therapy to identify markers that relate to successful treatment. They will also map when these brain changes begin during the therapy course. The goal is to create objective, brain-based indicators that clinicians could use to monitor progress and personalize treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide objective brain-based measures to guide PTSD treatment and monitor how well patients respond to therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have found brain and sleep changes associated with PTSD treatment, but this project aims to map specific biomarkers and timing for WET.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eslampanah Sendi, Mohammad Sadegh — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Eslampanah Sendi, Mohammad Sadegh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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-
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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.