Using Written Exposure Therapy to help Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
Official title: Evaluating the Impact of Supplementing Residential Substance Use Treatment with Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans with Co-Occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
Funded at Salem VA Medical Center · NIH-11229562 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how helpful Written Exposure Therapy can be for Veterans dealing with both PTSD and substance use issues, especially for those in rural areas who might not have easy access to care, to see if it can make their treatment better and improve their quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salem VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salem, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 1, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I21RX004083-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11229562 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Veterans diagnosed with both PTSD and Substance Use Disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a diagnosis of PTSD or Substance Use Disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) as an additional treatment for Veterans suffering from both Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUD). The study aims to assess how well this therapy can be integrated into existing substance use treatment programs, focusing on its acceptability and feasibility for patients. By addressing the unique challenges faced by Veterans, particularly those in rural areas with limited access to care, the research seeks to improve treatment outcomes and overall quality of life for participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide Veterans with a more effective treatment option that addresses both PTSD and substance use issues simultaneously.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results for treatments targeting PTSD and SUD, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Salem VA Medical Center
Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holohan, Dana — Salem VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Holohan, Dana
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (brief trauma treatment)
A brief trauma-focused therapy called Written Exposure Therapy is being studied to help veterans who have both PTSD and substance use disorders.
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Web-based training to treat PTSD and substance use together in Veterans
A web-based training resource helps VA clinicians learn how to provide integrated treatment for Veterans with both PTSD and substance use disorders.
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Genetics of PTSD and Substance Use in Diverse Populations
This grant investigates how genes influence PTSD and substance use disorders in diverse groups to improve prevention and treatment.
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Online training for clinicians to deliver COPE, a combined PTSD and substance-use therapy
This project offers web training to teach VA clinicians how to deliver COPE, a combined Prolonged Exposure therapy for Veterans with PTSD and substance use problems.
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Five-session written therapy for veterans with PTSD and substance use problems
This project uses a five-session written exposure therapy to help veterans with PTSD and substance use disorders reduce trauma symptoms and stay engaged in addiction care.
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Genes linking PTSD and substance use problems in diverse communities
Researchers are looking at how genetic factors connect PTSD with alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid problems in people from diverse ancestry groups.
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.