Reducing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms in First Responders and Frontline Health Care Workers

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · Feb 20, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how effective a specific type of talk therapy, called Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC), is in reducing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among First Responders and Healthcare workers. These individuals often face traumatic situations in their jobs, and the trial aims to see if this brief treatment can help them feel better and improve their daily functioning compared to standard help offered through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).

To participate in this study, you need to be an employee at an organization that uses a participating EAP and have a certain level of PTSD symptoms, as determined by a questionnaire. You should also have been stable on any psychiatric medications for at least four weeks. Participants will receive either the PE-PC treatment or the usual support, and they can expect to work closely with counselors throughout the process. It's important to note that individuals with severe cognitive issues, high suicide risk, or certain other mental health conditions will not be eligible to join the trial. This study is currently looking for volunteers, and all genders and ages from 65 to 74 can participate.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Are employees at an orginization served by a participating EAP
• • Have a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (PCL-5) score ≥33
• • Have had psychotropic medication stability for at least 4 weeks
• Inclusion criteria for the qualitative portion of the study:
• • - Enrolled into the randomized clinical trial and were a treatment responder or were a treatment non-responder
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Severe cognitive impairment that in the judgment of the investigators makes it unlikely that the participant can adhere to the study regimen (as evidenced by confusion, inability to track discussion or answer questions, or other clear and significant indicators of cognitive impairment)
• • High risk of suicide (defined as meeting criteria for Action Step 3 on the Participant Suicide Risk Screening form: found in protocol)
• • Need for detoxification
• • Active psychosis or unmanaged bipolar disorder, as measured by items 12 and 13 of the cross cutting assessment
• • Currently engagement in a trauma-focused behavioral treatment (such as Prolonged Exposure or Cognitive Processing Therapy).
• • Patients who do not speak English will be excluded for logistical reasons.