Shared decision making to pick PTSD therapy for active duty military
Official title: Implementing and Evaluating a Patient-Centered PTSD Treatment Program for Military Personnel
Run by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · NCT06953687 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try shared decision making to match active duty service members with one of three PTSD therapies (Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or Written Exposure Therapy) and either daily or weekly sessions to see if that improves treatment start, completion, and symptom reduction.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Fort Hood, Texas and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 9, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 2027 |
| Study ends | September 2028 |
| Registry record updated | August 19, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06953687 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adult active duty military members (age 18+) who meet DSM-5 PTSD criteria on the CAPS-5 and are able to participate in outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy are the ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Those with acute suicidal or homicidal risk, moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury, severe alcohol use requiring immediate care, or active psychosis/mania are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a partially randomized preference trial using a shared decision making (SDM) pre-intervention to match active duty service members with an evidence-based PTSD therapy and with either massed (daily) or spaced (weekly) session schedules. Participants who meet DSM-5 PTSD criteria on the CAPS-5 will engage in SDM with clinicians and then receive Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or Written Exposure Therapy. The study examines how patient characteristics and treatment preferences relate to treatment initiation, retention, and symptom outcomes, and also evaluates the impact of SDM on matching and engagement. Key exclusions include acute suicidality/homicidality, moderate-to-severe brain injury, severe alcohol problems, and active psychosis or mania.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, shared decision making could increase the number of service members who start and complete effective PTSD therapy and improve symptom outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Written Exposure Therapy have strong evidence for treating PTSD, but using shared decision making to match patients to these options is relatively novel and has limited direct trial data.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adult active duty military service members aged 18 or older. 2. Meets diagnostic criteria for PTSD based on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (CAPS-5). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Acute suicidality or homicidality requiring immediate intervention, such as hospitalization. 2. Moderate to severe brain injury as assessed by the History of Head Injury Form 3. Severe alcohol consumption patterns as assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and warranting immediate intervention as determined by clinical judgement. 4. Experiencing active psychosis or mania as determined by scores on the Prodromal Questionnaire and Mood Disorder Questionnaire in combination with clinical judgement.
Where it's running
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Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC)
Fort Hood, Texas, United States Recruiting -
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Vanessa Jacoby, PhD — The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Vanessa Jacoby, PhD
- Email: jacobyv@uthscsa.edu
- Phone: 254-289-3468
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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.