Advancing Skills Through Consultation, Education, and Novel Technologies (ASCENT)

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Live workshop; Behavioral: TherapyTrainer; Behavioral: Consultation video calls; Behavioral: AI-enhanced Web-based training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07707102

HT9425-25-1-0585 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

STUDY00002482

Details and patient eligibility

About

This research study tests strategies to train behavioral health providers in Written Exposure Therapy (WET), an evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There are a number of evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, most behavioral health providers have not received training in these PTSD treatments and do not offer them regularly to their patients.

The researchers hope to learn about the optimal way to train behavioral providers in this type of treatment. This study is designed to determine the comparative effectiveness of different training strategies on key outcomes such as how much competency providers develop in the therapy and to how many patients they deliver the therapy. This study will help the researchers understand if we can help more providers learn to competently delivery Written Exposure Therapy by using strategies that are more convenient and cost less money, including web-based and AI-facilitated training supports. This study will also help us learn which training strategies work best for which providers so that in the future we can make personalized training recommendations.

Full description

This study will enroll behavioral health providers (i.e., professional therapists) and test a training program for Written Exposure Therapy that includes

1. an enhanced, web-based foundational training (web-based training plus integrated TherapyTrainer components) and
2. an AI training support tool for competency development (TherapyTrainer).

This randomized clinical trial will compare web/AI training, among providers who serve Veterans and Service Members, to standard Written Exposure Therapy training (i.e., human-delivered live workshop and consultation calls) on provider, patient, and cost-effectiveness outcomes. There is no cross-over of conditions. Providers in both conditions will be eligible to earn continuing education credits and approval as Written Exposure Therapy Providers who have completed competency based training and two training cases.

Enrollment: 300 estimated patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. mental health provider;
2. serves veterans and/or service members with PTSD (by self-report);
3. willing to participate in either live or web-based training.

Exclusion criteria

1. has already completed formal training in Written Exposure Therapy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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300 participants in 4 patient groups

Workshop + Consultation Calls

Active Comparator group

Description:

10-hour, live workshop over 2 days with a live trainer via video conferencing. There will also be twelve 1 hour calls with a live therapy consultant .

Treatment:

Behavioral: Consultation video calls

Behavioral: Live workshop

Workshop + TherapyTrainer

Active Comparator group

Description:

10-hour, live workshop over 2 days with a live trainer via video conferencing.There will also be approximately 12 hours of engagement with the AI training support tool (TherapyTrainer)

Treatment:

Behavioral: TherapyTrainer

Behavioral: Live workshop

Web-Based Training + Consultation Calls

Active Comparator group

Description:

AI enhanced Web-based training with no live meetings, but approximately 8-10 hours of asynchronous, self-paced training. There will also be twelve 1 hour calls with a live therapy consultant .

Treatment:

Behavioral: AI-enhanced Web-based training

Behavioral: Consultation video calls

Web-based Training + TherapyTrainer

Active Comparator group

Description:

AI enhanced Web-based training with no live meetings, but approximately 8-10 hours of asynchronous, self-paced training. There will also be approximately 12 hours of engagement with the AI training support tool (TherapyTrainer)

Treatment:

Behavioral: AI-enhanced Web-based training

Behavioral: TherapyTrainer