Sustaining and Improving Clinicians' Use of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy (EBP) for PTSD

January 15, 2024 updated by: Candice Monson, Toronto Metropolitan University

A Comparison of the Effects of Internet-Based Strategies to Support Mental Health Clinicians' Use of an Effective Psychotherapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Mental Health Systems

The purpose of the study is to compare the impact of two strategies to sustain and improve the delivery of an evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in three different mental health systems. These approaches are based on two different theories of what is necessary to promote successful implementation. We will examine whether these strategies lead to improved patient outcomes, clinician skill, proportion of clients who receive CPT, and other outcomes that are relevant to the implementation of evidence-based psychosocial treatments. By examining these questions in 3 different mental health systems, we will also examine whether the implementation strategies yield different results in different systems.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This project will compare two different methods of post-training support to promote sustained and improved CPT delivery: Fidelity-oriented learning community (FID-LC) and Continuous Quality Improvement Learning Community (CQI-LC). Clinics in which clinicians have previously received CPT training will be randomly assigned to one of these conditions. Outcomes will be observed changes in patient symptoms during and following treatment, independent expert assessment of clinician fidelity and adaptations in delivering the psychotherapy (via audio-recordings), proportion of eligible caseloads that receive CPT, and capacity to deliver CPT. Data will also be collected to assess clinician and setting characteristics that may contribute to the success of each strategy. The study results will help inform how best to support the ongoing implementation and benefits of evidence-based psychotherapy (e.g., CPT) in routine clinical settings. This is a knowledge translation project in partnership with 3 systems; VA Canada, U.S. Veterans Health Care System and the National Centre for PTSD.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
90

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2K3
        • Ryerson University
  • United States
    • California
      • Menlo Park, California, United States, 94024
        • VA Palo Alto Healthcare System
      • San Antonio, California, United States, 78229
        • UTHSCSA

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All clinicians that provide psychotherapy to patients with PTSD
  • Agree to provide CPT to 6 patients over 2 years
  • Consent to be randomized to one of two study conditions
  • Are willing to record therapy sessions
  • Continue to have computer/internet access.

  • Patients will be clients of clinician participants that

    1. Are 18 years or older
    2. Have a diagnosis of PTSD
    3. Are willing to have their sessions audiorecorded

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Ineligible patient participants are those having

    1. Current uncontrolled psychotic or bipolar disorder
    2. Unremitted substance dependence
    3. Current imminent suicidality or homicidality that requires imminent attention
    4. Significant cognitive impairment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Fidelity-oriented Learning Community
The Fidelity-oriented Learning Community arm will receive fidelity consultation (adherence and competence) feedback by a CPT expert via online meetings.
Behavioral: Fidelity-oriented Learning Community
The Fidelity-oriented Learning Community arm will receive fidelity consultation (adherence and competence) feedback by a CPT expert via online meetings.
Experimental: Quality Improvement Learning Community
The Quality Improvement Learning Community arm will include clinicians who set goals related to CPT delivery, execute a plan, study results, refine plan, and continue each cycle until goals are met.
Behavioral: Quality Improvement Learning Community
Consultation with CPT experts to effectively use evidence-based psychotherapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in PTSD Symptoms over 6 months (PCL-5 measure)
Time Frame: Participants will be followed for an expected duration of 12 weeks of therapy. PCL-5 will be measured at baseline, at Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, post-treatment week, and at 3-month follow-up.
The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. Each item is measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The PCL will track change from baseline to the 3 month follow up.
Participants will be followed for an expected duration of 12 weeks of therapy. PCL-5 will be measured at baseline, at Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, post-treatment week, and at 3-month follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fidelity Measure
Time Frame: At baseline, at 12 and 24 months
The fidelity measure examines clinicians' adherence and competence to specific CPT interventions prescribed in each session. Clinicians are rated on their adherence to the protocol (on a 0-2 Likert-type scale), as well as their competence in delivery of these elements (rated on a 7-point, Likert-type scale).
At baseline, at 12 and 24 months
Content-Level and Context-Level Adaptation
Time Frame: At baseline, at 12 and 24 months
Using a framework and coding system of modifications and adaptations made to EBPs, sessions will be rated to identify 11 potential content-level adaptations, as well as 5 context-level modifications.
At baseline, at 12 and 24 months
CPT Activity Reporting
Time Frame: monthly for up to 1 year
All clinicians will report monthly on CPT activity: caseload size, frequency, duration and satisfaction with the LC over the past month, number of new CPT patients, clinician confidence rating in their CPT delivery.
monthly for up to 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Toronto Metropolitan University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Stanford University
Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
National Center for PTSD

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, PhD, National Center for PTSD
  • Principal Investigator: Norman Shields, PhD, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  • Principal Investigator: Candice Monson, PhD, Toronto Metropolitan University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 6, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2022

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 9, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 15, 2015

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 20, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 17, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 15, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • REB: 2014-345
  • 137012 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR))
  • R01MH106506-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

No plan to share IPD.

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Clinical Trials on Fidelity-oriented Learning Community

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings