Feasibility of Group-Based Metacognitive Therapy for PTSD

Karolinska Institute

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: PTSD

Treatments: Behavioral: Group-based metacognitive therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07302334

2025-03111-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of group-based Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when delivered within routine psychiatric care in Sweden.

The secondary objective is to evaluate preliminary treatment effects of group-based MCT on symptoms of post-traumatic stress, complex PTSD, depression, and quality of life, and to compare treatment dropout rates to those reported in the existing literature on exposure-based treatments for PTSD.

Full description

The investigators will investigate a 14 weekly group-based Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Feasibility and acceptability outcomes include recruitment and retention rates, data completeness, treatment adherence, and qualitative evaluations of patient experiences. Recruitment is designed to be broadly inclusive with minimal exclusion criteria. Patients will be recruited from a psychiatric clinic specialised in PTSD in Stockholm, Sweden. The investigators hypothesize that group-based MCT will result in significant within-group reductions in PTSD and depressive symptoms and improvements in functioning and quality of life from pre- to post-treatment, with effects maintained up to the 6-month follow-up.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Fulfills the diagnostic criteria for PTSD based on clinical records
• Self-rated total sum score over 30 on the PCL-5
• Age ≥18 years.
• Stable psychotropic medication regimen for ≥4 weeks.
• Fluent in Swedish.

Exclusion criteria

• Severe psychiatric comorbidities (e.g., suicidal ideation, active psychosis, bipolar disorder) warranting immediate attention.
• Current trauma-related threat (e.g., ongoing domestic violence).
• Ongoing evidence-based trauma-focused psychological treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 1 patient group

Group-based metacognitive therapy

Experimental group

Description:

14 weeks of group-based meta-cognitive therapy

Treatment:

Behavioral: Group-based metacognitive therapy