Study Comparing Two Treatments to Improve Emotion Regulation and Reduce PTSD Symptoms in Female Veterans with Military Sexual Trauma, Intimate Partner Violence, and Brain Injury

What this Trial Is About

Female Veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma MST andor intimate partner violence IPV often face a higher risk of brain injury BI and psychological challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two combined interventions in improving emotion regulation and reducing PTSD symptoms in this group. The study focuses on those with sub-threshold PTSD and documented emotional regulation difficulties, seeking to address the combined effects of MST, IPV, and BI. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups one will receive a web-based emotion regulation program called webSTAIR followed by exposure therapy ExpoTx, while the other will receive psychoeducation PsychEd followed by the same exposure therapy. The webSTAIR program involves completing 10 online skill modules over five weeks with therapist support via video-telehealth, followed by five weekly one-hour virtual exposure therapy sessions. The psychoeducation group will have five online sessions covering mental health topics related to trauma before starting the exposure therapy. During the study, participants will undergo assessments measuring difficulties in emotion regulation, PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, interpersonal problems, brain injury effects, and quality of life at multiple time points up to three months after treatment. These evaluations include questionnaires and scales like the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. The study also involves ongoing monitoring and aims to understand how improvements in emotion regulation affect treatment outcomes and lasting benefits.

Multifaceted Intervention to Restore Resilience and Overcome Risk