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Stepped Care for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Study

Key facts

Who runs it
Boston Medical Center
Where
Boston, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
428 people, planned
Started
12 Mar 2026
Expected to end
Jun 2029
Type of study
Interventional, 4 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • webSTAIR
  • WebSTAIR plus coaching
  • Clinician administered Brief STAIR
  • Clinician administered WET
Record updated
14 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 14 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Assessed at pre-screening
  • Boston Medical Center primary care patient
  • At least 18 years of age
  • Access to computer or mobile device
  • Able to receive treatments in English or Spanish
  • Able to read at 4th grade level; Assessed at baseline
  • Endorsement of Criterion A trauma using the Life Events Checklist for the DSM-5 (LEC-5), assessed at baseline
  • PTSD diagnosis, confirmed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for the DSM-5 (CAPS-5) assessed at baseline; Concordance between CAPS-5 and PCL-5 at baseline
  • Clinically appropriate for outpatient level of care
  • Stable on psychotropic medication for >4 weeks

Who cannot take part

  • Patient is currently engaged in clinician-administered therapy; Assessed at baseline (clinician interview)
  • Assessed at pre-screening
  • Patient is not clinically appropriate for outpatient level of care
  • Acute risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors, assessed by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, administered by research clinician at baseline

Where in United States

  • Boston Medical CenterBoston, United StatesContact: Sarah Valentine, PhDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Less than 20% of people with PTSD receive any treatment. This study extends a program of research by the investigator focused on developing adaptive (stepped) interventions for PTSD. The adaptive intervention sequences a digital mental health intervention (DMHI) and brief trauma- and skills-focused treatments for PTSD. The selected treatments are brief and scalable and less burdensome to systems of care. These treatments are: web-administered Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (webSTAIR), Brief STAIR, and Written Exposure Therapy (WET).

The 4 groups in the trial

  • webSTAIR to WETExisting treatment, for comparison

    First, offer skills-focused digital mental health intervention (DMHI); then switch to clinician-administered trauma-focused behavioral treatment for nonresponders and continue skills-focused DMHI for responders.

    Treatment: webSTAIR and Clinician administered WET

  • webSTAIR+coaching to WETExisting treatment, for comparison

    First, offer skills-focused DMHI plus community health worker (CHW) coaching; then add clinician-administered trauma-focused behavioral treatment for nonresponders and continue skills-focused DMHI for responders.

    Treatment: WebSTAIR plus coaching and Clinician administered WET

  • WebSTAIR to Brief STAIRExisting treatment, for comparison

    First, offer skills-focused DMHI; then add clinician-administered skills-focused behavioral treatment for nonresponders and continue skills-focused DMHI for responders.

    Treatment: webSTAIR and Clinician administered Brief STAIR

  • WebSTAIR+coaching to Brief STAIRExisting treatment, for comparison

    First, offer skills-focused DMHI plus CHW coaching; then add clinician-administered skills-focused behavioral treatment for nonresponders and continue skills-focused DMHI plus CHW coaching for responders.

    Treatment: WebSTAIR plus coaching and Clinician administered Brief STAIR

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
Adaptive Interventions to Improve Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment Access, Engagement, and Effectiveness in Routine Care
Record updated
14 July 2026