Early access
Sign in
Taking people in United StatesNo phase

Reducing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms in First Responders and Frontline Health Care Workers

Key facts

Who runs it
University of Michigan
Where
Ann Arbor, Carrollton, Cincinnati, Detroit, Durham, East Lansing, Fremont, Houston, New York, Piscataway, San Diego, and West Bloomfield, United StatesSee the 14 sites
Trial code
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
410 people, planned
Started
16 May 2023
Expected to end
30 Jul 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC)
  • EAP Treatment as Usual (TAU)
Record updated
1 July 2026

Who can take part

Age
18 years and older
Sex
Women and men
Healthy volunteers
Cannot take part

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 10 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Are employees at an orginization served by a participating EAP
  • Have a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (PCL-5) score ≥33
  • Have had psychotropic medication stability for at least 4 weeks
  • Enrolled into the randomized clinical trial and were a treatment responder or were a treatment non-responder

Who cannot take part

  • Currently engagement in a trauma-focused behavioral treatment (such as Prolonged Exposure or Cognitive Processing Therapy)
  • Severe cognitive impairment that in the judgment of the investigators makes it unlikely that the participant can adhere to the study regimen (as evidenced by confusion, inability to track discussion or answer questions, or other clear and significant indicators of cognitive impairment)
  • Active psychosis or unmanaged bipolar disorder, as measured by items 12 and 13 of the cross cutting assessment
  • High risk of suicide (defined as meeting criteria for Action Step 3 on the Participant Suicide Risk Screening form: found in protocol)
  • Need for detoxification
  • Patients who do not speak English will be excluded for logistical reasons

Where in United States

  • University of MichiganAnn Arbor, United StatesContact: James GarlickTaking people
  • Tanner Health SystemCarrollton, United StatesContact: Emily Norris, PhD, LPC, CPCS, CEAPTaking people
  • University of Cincinati HealthCincinnati, United StatesContact: Lisa Melink, MA,LPCCNot yet recruiting
  • Detroit Fire DepartmentDetroit, United StatesContact: Lennette WoodTaking people
  • Health Management Systems of AmericaDetroit, United StatesContact: Monique Jones, LMSW, CEAPTaking people
  • Henry Ford Health SystemDetroit, United StatesContact: James GarlickNo longer taking part
  • Duke University Health SystemDurham, United StatesContact: Laurie KovensTaking people
  • Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, United StatesContact: Jon Novello, LMSW,ACSWTaking people
  • ProMedicaFremont, United StatesContact: Chris Tafelski, LPCC,CEAPTaking people
  • Houston Fire DepartmentHouston, United StatesContact: Leah Belsches, PsyDTaking people
  • Cope NewYork-PresbyterianNew York, United StatesContact: Randy Martin, PhDTaking people
  • Rutgers HealthPiscataway, United StatesContact: Susan WeinsteinTaking people
  • Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, United StatesContact: James GarlickNo longer taking part
  • West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentWest Bloomfield, United StatesContact: James GarlickNo longer taking part

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

This study addresses PTSD symptoms in First Responders and Healthcare workers. Specifically, it tests whether a brief PTSD treatment (talk therapy) effectively treats PTSD when provided to First Responders and Healthcare workers by counselors in Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).

Read full original descriptionShow less

The central hypothesis is that the PTSD treatment, Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC), will reduce PTSD symptoms and improve functioning, compared to EAP Treatment as Usual (TAU).

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Prolonged Exposure for Primary CareTreatment being tested

    Treatment: Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC)

  • EAP Treatment as Usual (TAU)Existing treatment, for comparison

    Employee Assistance Programs standard treatment.

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Reducing PTSD Symptoms in First Responders and Frontline Healthcare Workers Through Trauma-focused Treatment in Employee Assistance Programs
Publications
Record updated
1 July 2026