Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) PTSD
Conditions
Interventions
The intervention consists of Written Exposure Therapy (WET), a brief psychotherapeutic intervention aimed at reducing PTSD symptoms. Our WET intervention includes five guided writing sessions (first s
Sponsors
Amsterdam UMC
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Age 18 or older;Index PTE concerns direct exposure to a civilian traumatic event according to DSM-5 PTSD A criterion (i.e. involving threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury) within the past 18-61days;The traumatic event needs to be experienced by the participant themselves, have an acute onset and external cause (i.e. not due to a medical condition) and the potential to lead to serious physical injury; Classified as at risk for chronic PTSD based on the prognostic risk screening instrument Sufficient understanding of Dutch language to understand the study’s procedures.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Evidence of suicidality (i.e., severe suicidal behavior involving acute suicidal ideations and preparatory acts or a specific plan, or clear indications of that current presented injuries are due to intentional self-inflicted injury);Evidence that the presenting index trauma fits within a pattern of ongoing and/or repeated trauma exposure, such as persistent domestic violence;Evidence of an inability to understand study procedures, risks or being otherwise unable to give informed consent, evidence of being unable to follow protocol (due to any reason, including visual or cognitive or physical impairment hindering completion of protocol);Impairment in ability to use or no regular access to internet-connected smartphone, tablet or computer with camera and microphone for completion of online intervention and assessments;Currently receiving trauma-focused (psychotherapeutic) treatment.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary objective is to investigate the effectiveness of WET as a selective, preventive intervention against chronic PTSD symptom (severity) in individuals who have recently been exposed to a PTE and who appear to have an increased risk for long-term PTSD. Therefore, the primary outcome measure is the severity of PTSD symptoms, assessed with the PCL-5 across the monthly follow-up assessments compared to the control condition. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary objectives include assessing the presence of a PTSD diagnosis at the final assessment (CAPS-5), wellbeing (WHO-5), severity of trauma-related comorbid symptoms such as anxiety, depression (DASS-21), substance use (MATE-Q), and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). Furthermore, cost-effectiveness (iMCQ, iPCQ, EQ-5D-5L), as well as acceptability (TFA-Q) of WET will be investigated. | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Contacts
Public ContactM. van Zuiden
Amsterdam UMC
Outcome results
None listed