Augmented reality-enhanced exposure therapy for PTSD in U.S. military personnel
Advanced Wireless Augmented Reality-Enhanced Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
This tests whether adding augmented reality to standard exposure therapy helps U.S. military veterans and active-duty adults with PTSD.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Wayne State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Charleston, South Carolina) |
| Trial ID | NCT06740487 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized interventional trial will enroll 40 adult men and women who are current or former U.S. military personnel with a current PTSD diagnosis and randomize them 1:1. One group will receive traditional exposure therapy alone and the other will receive the same exposure therapy plus a stepwise augmented reality (AR) component, with AR used to add virtual feared stimuli into the patient’s real environment. Outcomes will include clinical PTSD symptoms, psychosocial and occupational functioning, and measures of treatment acceptance and satisfaction, with comparisons made between groups. The trial is conducted at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System in Charleston, SC, with collaboration from Wayne State University and DoD partners.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18 or older who are current or former U.S. military personnel with a current PTSD diagnosis and who can safely wear and use AR headsets are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Those with active psychosis, clear suicidal intent, uncontrolled substance use, or vision problems that prevent AR headset use are unlikely to benefit from or be eligible for this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding AR could make exposure exercises easier to complete, improve symptom reduction and real-world functioning, and reduce dropout from therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Virtual reality exposure has proven effective for PTSD in many studies, while AR research is more limited but shows promising early results.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult male or female over the age of 18 that has served, or is currently serving, in the military. * Current diagnosis of PTSD as determined by a Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) clinical interview. Exclusion Criteria: * Active psychosis or dementia at screening. * Suicidal ideation with clear intent. * Concurrent enrollment in another clinical trial for PTSD or depression. * Substance use disorders * Visual impairments not allowing use of augmented reality. Visual impairments that are corrected with contact lens visual aid are not considered exclusionary as contacts can be worn under the AR headset. For patients with vision impairment that cannot wear contacts, a diopter value no stronger than -2.00 is acceptable. Exclusion criteria are limited to those factors that would negatively impact the validity of the study findings, or place participants at undue risk.
Where this trial is running
Charleston, South Carolina
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System — Charleston, South Carolina, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ron Acierno, PhD — Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Arash Javanbakht, MD
- Email: ajavanba@med.wayne.edu
- Phone: 3135771396
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.