NCT03803332

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare two kinds of therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): exposure therapy (ET) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). The results of this study will allow us to see if IPT and ET are equally effective in treating PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma, with the long-term goal of making PTSD treatment effective for as many people as possible.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
208

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
16mo left

Started Mar 2020

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress82%
Mar 2020Sep 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 11, 2019

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 14, 2019

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 9, 2020

Completed
7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2027

Expected
6 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2027

Last Updated

April 16, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

7 years

First QC Date

January 11, 2019

Last Update Submit

April 14, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

PTSDMilitary Sexual Traumaexposure therapyinterpersonal psychotherapytreatment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Difference in mean Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-5 (CAPS-5) score changes between the Exposure Therapy (ET) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) treatment groups from baseline to post-treatment

    The CAPS-5 is used for rating the severity of PTSD symptoms. Scores range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating greater PTSD severity

    Baseline, 15 weeks in the IPT condition, 11 weeks in the ET condition

  • Change in CAPS-5 scores from baseline to post-treatment for the ET treatment group

    The CAPS-5 is used for rating the severity of PTSD symptoms. Scores range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating greater PTSD severity

    Baseline, 11 weeks

  • Change in CAPS-5 scores from baseline to post-treatment for the IPT treatment group

    The CAPS-5 is used for rating the severity of PTSD symptoms. Scores range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating greater PTSD severity

    Baseline, 15 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Exposure Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive 10 90-minute exposure therapy sessions for PTSD following the treatment procedures as outlined in the standard Prolonged Exposure therapy manual.

Behavioral: Exposure Therapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive 14 weekly 50-minute Interpersonal Psychotherapy sessions focused on the interpersonal sequelae of trauma in current daily life.

Behavioral: Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interventions

Psychotherapy including imaginal and in vivo exposure for PTSD.

Also known as: Prolonged Exposure
Exposure Therapy

Psychotherapy that focuses on the effects of PTSD on current interpersonal functioning.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 85 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • English-speaking
  • Military Sexual Trauma (MST) survivors, with MST defined as actual or threatened sexual violence, from Vietnam era to current Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn
  • Diagnosed with PTSD consequent to MST, with a minimum CAPS score \> 40
  • Medically stable at time of study enrollment (for persons with chronic injuries and that any disability present does not prevent attendance of weekly outpatient therapy sessions)
  • Ability to provide informed consent and function at an intellectual level sufficient to allow accurate completion of all assessment instruments
  • Stable on psychotropic medication for the prior 60 days

You may not qualify if:

  • Lifetime or current diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder
  • Participation in a clinical trial or concurrent evidence-based treatment for MST-related psychiatric conditions or PTSD during the previous 3 months
  • Current evidence of significant unstable medical illness or organic brain impairment such that the patient could not attend sessions regularly or complete assessments
  • Patients who in the investigator's judgment pose a current homicidal or suicidal risk
  • Current or history of substance dependence in the past 90 days.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Weill Cornell Medicine

New York, New York, 10065, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-TraumaticMilitary Sexual Trauma

Interventions

Implosive TherapyInterpersonal Psychotherapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, TraumaticTrauma and Stressor Related DisordersMental DisordersSexual Trauma

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Desensitization, PsychologicBehavior TherapyPsychotherapyBehavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

  • JoAnn Difede, PhD

    Weill Medical College of Cornell University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Olivia Baryluk, BS

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 11, 2019

First Posted

January 14, 2019

Study Start

March 9, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2027

Last Updated

April 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations