Treating PTSD and opioid use disorder in residential care with Written Exposure Therapy (WEST)
Official title: Treating OUD/PTSD in Residential Care: Written Exposure in Substance Treatment (WEST).
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore County · NIH-11588002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore County NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $555,159 |
| NIH project number | 4R33DA062302-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11588002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with co-occurring PTSD and OUD who are participating in residential SUD treatment and are open to evidence-based PTSD therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without PTSD or those not in residential treatment may not directly benefit from this adaptation.
What this research studies
This project aims to tailor Written Exposure Therapy for people with opioid use disorder who are staying in residential treatment. Using an 8-step ADAPT-ITT process, researchers will gather feedback from patients, clinicians, and other stakeholders to adapt WET to the residential setting. They will create an initial WEST version, get expert input, and run a small, uncontrolled pilot to see how it works in real-world care. The ultimate goal is to improve PTSD symptoms and related outcomes for people in residential OUD/SUD programs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, WEST could reduce PTSD symptoms and improve overall recovery outcomes for individuals with OUD in residential treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous use of Written Exposure Therapy shows promise for PTSD in SUD populations, and this project builds on those findings with a setting-specific adaptation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schacht, Rebecca L — University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Study coordinator: Schacht, Rebecca L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
PTSD and Autoimmune Diseases: How PTSD Might Cause or Change Risk and What Might Help
This project looks at whether PTSD in Veterans affects the risk of autoimmune diseases and whether there are factors that influence that risk.
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.