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Written Exposure Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Jesse McCann, MS
Research Sponsored by Jesse McCann
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
18 years of age or older
Fluent in English (including being able to read and write in English)
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up change in prior week symptom severity assessed with self-report scale from 3 or 5 weeks prior to beginning treatment, compared to weekly during treatment, and compared weekly to 4 weeks after completing treatment
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will use Single Case Experimental Design to study the effects of WET in reducing both PTSD symptoms and trauma-related mental contamination among individuals with PTSD resulting from sexual trauma.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults who have experienced sexual trauma, can read and write in English, and are currently dealing with PTSD symptoms and mental contamination. They must not be starting new trauma-related treatments or changing their stable psychotropic medication doses during the study.
What is being tested?
The trial tests Written Exposure Therapy (WET), a brief treatment involving writing about one's traumatic experience over five sessions. The goal is to see if WET reduces PTSD symptoms and feelings of internal 'dirtiness' without physical contact, known as mental contamination.
What are the potential side effects?
While not explicitly listed, potential side effects may include temporary increases in distress due to recalling traumatic events during therapy sessions.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am 18 years old or older.
Select...
I can speak, read, and write in English fluently.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~change in prior week symptom severity assessed with self-report checklist from 3 or 5 weeks prior to beginning treatment, compared to weekly during treatment, and compared weekly to 4 weeks after completing treatment
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and change in prior week symptom severity assessed with self-report checklist from 3 or 5 weeks prior to beginning treatment, compared to weekly during treatment, and compared weekly to 4 weeks after completing treatment for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
Posttraumatic Experience of Mental Contamination Scale (PEMC)

Side effects data

From 2023 Phase 2 trial • 16 Patients • NCT04889664
85%
Fatigue
69%
Other
38%
Headache
38%
Dizziness
23%
Blurred Vision
15%
Frequent Urination
15%
Nausea/vomiting
15%
Menstrual Irregularity
15%
Difficulty Sleeping
8%
Increased Perspiration
8%
Decreased energy
8%
Anxiety
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Ketamine and Written Exposure Therapy

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: 5-Week BaselineExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants in this arm are randomized to a 5-week baseline period with repeated weekly assessment after the initial intake. Following the 5-week baseline, participants receive 5 weekly sessions of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) followed by a 4-week follow-up phase with repeated weekly assessments, including a post-study evaluation one week after ending WET.
Group II: 3-Week BaselineExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants in this arm are randomized to a 3-week baseline period with repeated weekly assessment after the initial intake. Following the 3-week baseline, participants receive 5 weekly sessions of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) followed by a 4-week follow-up phase with repeated weekly assessments, including a post-study evaluation one week after ending WET.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Written Exposure Therapy
2021
Completed Phase 2
~370

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Jesse McCannLead Sponsor
1 Previous Clinical Trials
20 Total Patients Enrolled
Christal L Badour, PhDStudy DirectorUniversity of Kentucky
1 Previous Clinical Trials
12 Total Patients Enrolled
Jesse McCann, MSPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of Kentucky
1 Previous Clinical Trials
20 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Written Exposure Therapy Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT05268367 — N/A
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Research Study Groups: 3-Week Baseline, 5-Week Baseline
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Trial 2023: Written Exposure Therapy Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT05268367 — N/A
Written Exposure Therapy 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT05268367 — N/A
~3 spots leftby May 2025