Psychodynamic psychotherapy for veterans with PTSD
Official title: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Trauma-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (TFPP) at the VA in Veterans With PTSD
Run by Montefiore Medical Center · NCT03755401 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new type of therapy for veterans with PTSD to see if it helps them feel better compared to the usual treatments they’ve already tried.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Montefiore Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 2, 2018 |
| Main results expected | May 2027 |
| Study ends | May 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 6, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT03755401 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are veterans with moderate PTSD who have previously declined or dropped out of standard treatments.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe mental health conditions such as psychotic disorders or severe suicidality may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (TFPP) compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) in 75 veterans suffering from PTSD who have not responded to standard treatments. The study aims to address the significant unmet needs of veterans by expanding the range of available psychotherapy options at Veterans Administration Medical Centers. TFPP is an adaptation of a previously successful therapy for panic disorder, designed to target traumatic experiences and incorporate veterans' feedback into the treatment process. The trial seeks to implement this innovative approach to improve PTSD care for veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could provide an effective treatment option for veterans with PTSD who have not benefited from standard therapies.
How similar studies have gone: While psychodynamic psychotherapy for PTSD has not been widely implemented in the US, previous studies have shown success with similar approaches in other contexts.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Reporting moderate PTSD, as defined by a CAPS score of \>40 * Have at least one of the following history with CPT and/or PE: * offered and declined * dropped out of treatment * been determined unsuitable by their treatment team * received treatment but continue to experience symptoms meeting entrance criteria. * Require stabilization on psychiatric medication for 2 month period prior to entry into study to avoid confounding treatments Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of SCID-5 assessed psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or substance use that would interfere with trial demands * Severe suicidality that would require immediate crisis management * Organic mental syndromes, delirium, or unstable medical conditions that would interfere with trial demands * Inability to meet trial demands.
Where it's running
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VA New York Harbor Healthcare System - Manhattan Campus
New York, New York, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Barbara Milrod, MD — Weill Medical College of Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Emily Villeveuve
- Email: Emily.Villeneuve@va.gov
- Phone: (212) 686-7500
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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.