Actively Recruiting
Evaluation of the PE Coach Mobile Application Among Veterans With PTSD
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2026-01-15
124
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
269 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
V
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
D
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Thousands of mental health mobile applications (apps) are available but limited research has been conducted on their effectiveness. VA has been a leader in mental health mobile app development and must research whether these apps work, and if so, how? PE Coach is a well-designed treatment companion app to one of the most researched, efficacious psychotherapies for PTSD (prolonged exposure), a treatment that has been broadly disseminated throughout VA mental health clinics. Research suggests that VA therapists find the app helpful in supporting patients. Preliminary results suggest that Veteran patients prefer to receive therapy with PE Coach and Veterans complete more recovery-oriented homework when they do. This study will randomize 124 Veterans with PTSD to treatment with or without PE Coach. The project will evaluate the effect of the app on PTSD-related functioning, quality of life, and PTSD symptoms. The investigators will test whether the app improves functioning and symptoms, increases homework, and reduces drop out.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Evaluation of the PE Coach Mobile Application Among Veterans With PTSD
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Veterans aged 18-65
- Enrolled in VA healthcare and eligible for VA PTSD psychotherapy
- Current PTSD diagnosis based on CAPS-5 with a minimum severity score of 26
- Fluent in English
- Willing to participate in individual, in-person or telemental health prolonged exposure psychotherapy including mobile device use
You will not qualify if you...
- Severe neurological conditions interfering with treatment or assessments (e.g., Major Neurocognitive Disorder, ALS, severe traumatic brain injury)
- Current suicidal intent
- Behavioral patient record flag in VA medical record
- History of serious psychotic mental health conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, depressive disorder with psychotic features)
- Currently in a threatening situation such as domestic violence
- Severe alcohol use disorder (AUDIT score ≥13 for women, ≥15 for men)
- Prior history of 3 or more prolonged exposure therapy sessions for PTSD
- Receiving other current psychotherapy for PTSD recommended by VA/DoD guidelines
- Physical condition preventing proper use of a mobile device
- Not stable on psychotropic medications for at least 6 weeks prior to enrollment
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
Seattle, Washington, United States, 98108-1532
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
G
Greg M Reger, PhD
CONTACT
E
Eric R Kuhn, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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