Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (brief trauma treatment)
Official title: Written Exposure Therapy (WET) as a brief trauma treatment for Veterans with Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders and PTSD
Funded at VA Connecticut Healthcare System · NIH-11533114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A brief trauma-focused therapy called Written Exposure Therapy is being studied to help veterans who have both PTSD and substance use disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Connecticut Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Haven, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX002271-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11533114 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorders treated in VA outpatient settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without PTSD or those not receiving SUD treatment in a VA setting may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates whether a short, five-session trauma treatment can reduce PTSD symptoms in veterans who are also receiving treatment for substance use. The intervention is designed to be delivered in busy outpatient settings with minimal training, potentially improving retention in SUD programs. If PTSD symptoms improve, it could also lead to better engagement and outcomes in substance use treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, veterans with PTSD and SUD may experience relief from trauma symptoms and better treatment outcomes for substance use.
How similar studies have gone: Past work suggests brief trauma therapies can reduce PTSD symptoms and may support substance use treatment outcomes, though findings in this specific population are ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meshberg-Cohen, Sarah — VA Connecticut Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Meshberg-Cohen, Sarah
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Using Written Exposure Therapy to help Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.