Augmented reality-enhanced exposure therapy for PTSD in U.S. military personnel
Official title: Advanced Wireless Augmented Reality-Enhanced Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Run by Wayne State University · NCT06740487 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This tests whether adding augmented reality to standard exposure therapy helps U.S. military veterans and active-duty adults with PTSD.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Wayne State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Charleston, South Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | January 29, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06740487 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: Virtual reality exposure has proven effective for PTSD in many studies, while AR research is more limited but shows promising early results.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
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
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (gammaCore) for PTSD
This study will test whether the handheld gammaCore device, which delivers mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve through the neck, can help adults with PTSD reduce their symptoms.
-
Non‑trauma PTSD treatment for veterans and service members with mild or moderate TBI
This pilot will test a non‑trauma psychotherapy program to help veterans and service members with mild or moderate traumatic brain injury who have PTSD.
-
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for PTSD after sexual assault
This trial will test whether a single 25 mg oral dose of psilocybin combined with therapy helps cisgender women who have PTSD from a sexual assault.
-
Short-term therapy for PTSD symptoms
This study is testing a week-long therapy to see if it can help adults with PTSD feel better and reduce their symptoms.
-
Working memory training to improve fear extinction in veterans with PTSD
This study is testing if a special memory training program can help veterans with PTSD learn to manage their fears better.
-
EEG‑guided propofol to induce dreaming as a therapy for PTSD
This trial will test whether EEG‑guided propofol anesthesia that induces dreaming can reduce symptoms in adults with PTSD.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.