Novel Telemedicine-Delivered Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Treating PTSD in Individuals With OUD

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT · Feb 23, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new way to help people with both Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using telemedicine. The therapy being tested is called prolonged exposure therapy, which helps individuals confront and process their traumatic experiences to reduce PTSD symptoms. The goal of the study is to see if this remote approach can help more people attend therapy sessions and improve their PTSD symptoms compared to traditional methods.

To be eligible for the trial, participants must be at least 18 years old and have been on a stable dose of methadone or buprenorphine for at least a month. They also need to meet specific criteria for PTSD as identified by a mental health professional. Participants should not have severe mental health issues like active hallucinations or be currently pregnant. If you join the study, you can expect to receive therapy sessions via video calls, making it easier to access treatment from home. The trial is currently recruiting participants, and it aims to provide valuable insights into treating PTSD in individuals struggling with opioid use.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • \>18 years old
• • Maintained on a stable methadone or buprenorphine dose for \>1 month prior to the study
• • Meet current DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder criteria based on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
• • Participants receiving psychotropic medications must be maintained on a stable dose for \>1 month prior to enrollment.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Current delusions or hallucinations, unstable bipolar disorder, imminent risk for suicide as assessed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview
• • Cognitive impairment as evidenced by scores \<22 on the Videoconference-based Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE; Folstein, et al., 1975)
• • Enrolled in another ongoing evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
• • Pregnancy as verified by pregnancy test
• • No access to cellular service