Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD in a Virtual, Group-based Format

NCT ID: NCT05553249

Last Updated: 2025-09-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 29 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-11-14
• Study Completion Date: 2025-03-15

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine whether Written Exposure Therapy (WET) can be effectively delivered virtually and in a group format for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a military and police population. The objective of this study is to assess treatment feasibility and acceptability, drop out rates, changes in severity of trauma-related symptoms and symptoms of depression, quality of life, and the need for further trauma-focused treatment (TFT) for the the delivery of WET as a virtual, group based intervention.

Detailed Description

This study will assess the efficacy and acceptability of WET being delivered virtually and in a group format for the treatment of PTSD through the Operational Stress Injury Clinic (OSIC) at Deer Lodge Centre.

WET is offered in small groups of 10 patients. This study will follow 8 iterations of the group for a potential total of 80 participants in this study. Each WET group session will be facilitated by two OSIC clinicians, at least one of whom will be a clinical psychologist. Each session, administered via the Zoom app for healthcare, will start with a brief check in, then instructions will be provided to the whole group. Each group will receive a total of 5 therapy sessions, each of which will last approximately 1.5hrs.

Prior to the first WET session, participants will be asked to complete three clinical measures: Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 (PHQ-9), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5, weekly version), and Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45). Participants will be asked to complete the PCL-5 prior to each session. Participants will also complete a Treatment Acceptability/Adherence Scale prior to the start of the second session.

Following the final session of therapy, participants will be asked to complete the three clinical assessment questionnaires (PHQ-9, PCL-5, and OQ-45) at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-treatment. A research assistant will also follow-up with each participant at the 3-month mark to ask whether they have sought or attended further psychological treatment since the end of the WET sessions.

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Interventions

Written Exposure Therapy

Virtual, group-based Written Exposure Therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Referred for Written Exposure Therapy at the Occupational Stress Injury Clinic (OSIC) in Winnipeg
• Able to speak, read, and write in English
• Medication held at a stable dose for four weeks prior to beginning treatment and throughout the duration of treatment (if on a prescribed medication)

Exclusion Criteria

• Current psychosis
• Presence of another psychiatric disorder that requires prioritization over treating PTSD
• Any cognitive, visual, or motor impairment that would prevent writing for 30 minutes

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Manitoba

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Carmen Bodkyn, PhD CPsych

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Manitoba

Locations

Deer Lodge Centre

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

HS25632 (H2022:260)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id