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Written Exposure in Substance Treatment (WEST 3.0): Randomized Controlled Trial
Sponsor: Potomac Health Foundations
Summary
The purpose of the current research study is to evaluate the efficacy of the refined Written Exposure in Substance Treatment (WEST) for PTSD among residential SUD patients through a randomized controlled trial. All participants meet criteria for PTSD and are in a short term residential SUD treatment program (target residential treatment duration = 28 days) regardless of the research. Participants will be randomly assigned to WEST + treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU only. The primary outcome is change in PTSD symptoms from pre-intervention to post-intervention. The secondary outcome will be change in SUD outcomes (e.g., treatment completion, reduced opioid and other drug use) and change in non-PTSD mental health outcomes (e.g., depression) from pre-intervention to post-intervention.
Official title: Treating OUD/PTSD in Residential Care: Written Exposure in Substance Treatment (WEST)
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
400
Start Date
2026-09-01
Completion Date
2030-05-31
Last Updated
2026-08-24
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Written Exposure Therapy
Written Exposure Therapy is a brief, evidenced based intervention for PTSD. WET is generally delivered individually across 5 sessions in which the therapist guides the patient through writing exercises. Across exposure sessions, participants experience habituation so that their symptoms decrease by the end of treatment. WET has an established evidence base in general outpatient psychotherapy for PTSD, but has not been adapted or tested in residential SUD treatment settings. Further, the investigators have adapted WET for this setting based on stakeholder and expert feedback.
Treatment as Usual
Treatment as Usual will include a variety of standard care services offered in short term residential treatment. For example, participants receiving TAU will participate in individual case management/general counseling sessions focused on substance use disorder and its consequences, group based psychoeducation sessions, group based counseling sessions (e.g., relapse prevention planning), individual services with a medical provider and pharmacotherapy (e.g., for withdrawal, relapse prevention, or co-occurring conditions)
Locations (1)
Maryland Treatment Centers
Baltimore, Maryland, United States