Delivery Considerations of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD

Review treatment outcomes of modifications to standard delivery of CPT for PTSD that are delivered as routine care at in VA outpatient clinic.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: PTSD
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: CPT for PTSD

Detailed Description

Background and Introduction Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an evidenced based psychotherapy for PTSD. It is considered a first line treatment and has ample evidence supporting it's effectiveness (ISTSS and VA/DOD clinical practice guidelines). This therapy is manualized and a framework is provided to ensure consistent delivery. Additionally, the VA Office of Mental Health Operations sponsors training and dissemination of CPT throughout the VA system and the PI of this study is a trainer and consultant of this therapy. Flexibility exists in the protocol and CPT can be delivered in unorthodox modalities such as telehealth (Moreland et al, 2015) and on compressed time schedules (Held et al, 2020; Bryan et al, 2018). While the literature supports the effectiveness of these interventions in unique settings, no known studies have looked at outcome data of real-world outpatient clinics. The PTSD Clinical Team provides CPT as part of it's standard care with a variety of adaptations. The team practices measurement based care and routinely collects self-report symptom inventories to track patient progress. This study aims to use data collected as part of standard care in this clinic to evaluate the effectiveness of these treatment adaptations in this setting.

Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of how CPT for PTSD is delivered. Initial areas of review will include in person vs. telehealth delivery and timing (daily vs. weekly).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 64

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Utah
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84148
      • Salt Lake City VAMC

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Veterans seeking treatment for PTSD at VA outpatient specialty clinic.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• PTSD diagnosis
• Veterans eligible for VA care
• Treatment seeking Veterans

Exclusion Criteria:

• PTSD not priority of treatment due to comorbidity, safety, etc. All patients that would be treated for PTSD in outpatient clinic are included.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Only
• Time Perspectives: Retrospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Vets; Veterans receiving care from the PTSD Clinical Team at the Salt Lake City VAMC. All participants are adults with a diagnosis of PTSD. This study plans on reviewing data collected as part of standard clinical practices. The study will have no impact on the treatment provided to the patient.	Behavioral: CPT for PTSD; Evidence based psychotherapy for PTSD

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
PTSD Checklist 5	Self report PTSD symptom inventory	Through study completion, an average of 12 sessions (3 months)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
PHQ-9	Self report depression symptom inventory	Through study completion, an average of 12 sessions (3 months)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Harrison R Weinstein, PhD, VA Salt Lake City

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): March 24, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 19, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): February 21, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 28, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 24, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB_00133139

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Not included in current IRB.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No