PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Written Exposure Therapy, AI-facilitated training
Brief summary
This research study tests strategies to train behavioral health providers in Written Exposure Therapy (WET), an evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There are a number of evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, most behavioral health providers have not received training in these PTSD treatments and do not offer them regularly to their patients. The researchers hope to learn about the optimal way to train behavioral providers in this type of treatment. This study is designed to determine the comparative effectiveness of different training strategies on key outcomes such as how much competency providers develop in the therapy and to how many patients they deliver the therapy. This study will help the researchers understand if we can help more providers learn to competently delivery Written Exposure Therapy by using strategies that are more convenient and cost less money, including web-based and AI-facilitated training supports. This study will also help us learn which training strategies work best for which providers so that in the future we can make personalized training recommendations.
Detailed description
This study will enroll behavioral health providers (i.e., professional therapists) and test a training program for Written Exposure Therapy that includes 1. an enhanced, web-based foundational training (web-based training plus integrated TherapyTrainer components) and 2. an AI training support tool for competency development (TherapyTrainer). This randomized clinical trial will compare web/AI training, among providers who serve Veterans and Service Members, to standard Written Exposure Therapy training (i.e., human-delivered live workshop and consultation calls) on provider, patient, and cost-effectiveness outcomes. There is no cross-over of conditions. Providers in both conditions will be eligible to earn continuing education credits and approval as Written Exposure Therapy Providers who have completed competency based training and two training cases.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALLive workshop
Approximately 10 hours (excluding breaks) over 2 days with a live trainer via video conferencing (e.g., Zoom)
BEHAVIORALAI-enhanced Web-based training
No live meetings, but approximately 8-10 hours of asynchronous training at the learner's pace over about 1 month.
BEHAVIORALConsultation video calls
Twelve 1-hour calls with a live therapy consultant via videoconferencing (e.g., Zoom)
BEHAVIORALTherapyTrainer
No live meetings, but approximately 12 hours of engaging with the AI training support tool (TherapyTrainer)
Sponsors
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Stanford University
Medical University of South Carolina
Boston University
Rush University Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Three hundred providers will be randomized at a 1:1 ratio to a foundational learning condition and a competency development condition (2 x 2 design).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. mental health provider; 2. serves veterans and/or service members with PTSD (by self-report); 3. willing to participate in either live or web-based training.
Exclusion criteria
1\. has already completed formal training in Written Exposure Therapy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Provider WET Competency | Baseline to 7 months | A 20-item multiple choice treatment knowledge assessment. Higher scores indicate greater knowledge of WET. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of Practice Cases | 4 months | Number of participants that complete practice cases |
| Time to complete Practice Cases | 4 months | Number of days to complete two training cases (real or simulated) |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTStefanie Losavio, PhD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORStefanie LoSavio, PhD
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Outcome results
None listed