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Effectiveness of PTSD Treatment For Suicidal and Multi-Diagnostic Clients

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Self-injurious Behavior
Suicide
Interventions
Behavioral: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Behavioral: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure protocol
Registration Number
NCT02615197
Lead Sponsor
University of Washington
Brief Summary

The present project has two primary aims: (1) to examine the effectiveness of a multi-component implementation strategy in improving adoption and adherence to the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol, and (2) to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the DBT PE protocol in a sample of individuals receiving DBT in public mental health agencies. This study uses a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation design to simultaneously test the clinical effectiveness of DBT + DBT PE and to evaluate an adaptive, multi-component implementation strategy. The effectiveness trial will use a quasi-experimental, controlled design to evaluate outcomes among DBT clients with PTSD who do versus do not receive the DBT PE protocol and outcomes will be benchmarked to those obtained in research settings.

Detailed Description

Although several evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found to be effective in research and community settings, individuals with PTSD who are acutely suicidal, self-injuring, and/or have severe comorbid disorders are typically excluded from these treatments. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol has been shown to be effective in treating PTSD among suicidal, self-injuring, and multi-diagnostic individuals receiving Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in research settings. The present project has two primary aims: (1) to examine the effectiveness of a multi-component implementation strategy in improving adoption and adherence to the DBT PE protocol, and (2) to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the DBT PE protocol in a sample of individuals receiving DBT in public mental health agencies. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). This study uses a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation design to simultaneously test the clinical effectiveness of DBT + DBT PE and to evaluate an adaptive, multi-component implementation strategy. The effectiveness trial will use a quasi-experimental, controlled design to evaluate outcomes among DBT clients with PTSD who do versus do not receive the DBT PE protocol and outcomes will be benchmarked to those obtained in research settings. Clinical effectiveness outcomes include measures of PTSD, suicidality, global symptom severity, and quality of life and will be assessed at four timepoints (baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months) using blinded independent evaluators. The initial implementation strategy will include an implementation team, online training, distribution of a treatment manual, in-person workshop, team-based clinical consultation, and audit and feedback on session content. The implementation strategy will be adapted as needed during the project using Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement methods. Implementation outcomes include feasibility, acceptability, adoption, fidelity, penetration, and sustainability of the DBT PE protocol and will be assessed via clinician surveys at 8 timepoints over 2 years (baseline, pre-training, post-training, 4, 8, and 12-months after initial training during active implementation, and 6 and 12 months follow-up after implementation is complete). Both effectiveness and implementation outcomes are being assessed using mixed methods, including quantitative evaluation (e.g., intent-to-treat analyses across multiple time points) and qualitative evaluation (e.g., surveys and interviews with clients, clinicians, and agency administrators). Four public mental health agencies with existing DBT programs will be recruited for participation. It is estimated that this will yield a sample of 25 clinicians who will enroll a maximum of 3 clients each in the effectiveness trial (n=75 clients total). The project will also engage an advisory board of stakeholders in the DBHIDS system.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
35
Inclusion Criteria
  • Meets criteria for PTSD
  • Currently receiving DBT individual therapy with a clinician enrolled in the study
Exclusion Criteria
  • Not able to understand treatment and research assessments conducted in English

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Dialectical Behavior Therapy + DBT Prolonged Exposure protocolDialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure protocolStandard Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as described in the 2 DBT treatment manuals (Linehan, 1993; 2014) plus an adapted version of Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD.
Dialectical Behavior TherapyDialectical Behavior TherapyStandard Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as described in the 2 DBT treatment manuals (Linehan, 1993; 2014).
Dialectical Behavior Therapy + DBT Prolonged Exposure protocolDialectical Behavior TherapyStandard Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as described in the 2 DBT treatment manuals (Linehan, 1993; 2014) plus an adapted version of Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline PTSD Severity at 12 monthsBaseline to 12 months

The PTSD Symptom Scale - Interview will be used to measure the severity of the 17 DSM-IV PTSD symptoms.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Global Severity of IllnessBaseline, 4, 8, and 12 months

The self-report Brief Symptom Inventory will be used to calculate the Global Severity Index (GSI), which quantifies the patient's overall severity-of-illness.

Health-Related Quality of LifeBaseline, 4, 8, and 12 months

The self-report CDC Health-Related Quality of Life-4 will be used to assess the number of recent healthy days (i.e., a summary measure of a person's physically and mentally healthy days).

Therapist Adherence to the DBT PE ProtocolTwo randomly selected DBT PE therapy sessions per client over the 12 months

The DBT PE Adherence Scale will be used is an observer-rated measure of the therapist's adherence to the DBT PE protocol during actual therapy sessions.

Mental Health Treatment UtilizationBaseline, 4, 8, and 12 months

The structured Treatment History Interview will be used to assess utilization of various mental health services (e.g., psychotherapy, psychiatric hospitalization) as well as psychotropic medications.

Intentional Self-InjuryBaseline, 4, 8, and 12 months

The structured Suicide Attempt Self-Injury Interview will be used to measure the method, intent, medical severity, and outcomes of suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics, University of Washington

🇺🇸

Seattle, Washington, United States

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