MedPath

Intervention Evaluation WEH (Women Who Have Experienced Homelessness)

Phase 1
Withdrawn
Conditions
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Registration Number
NCT06570525
Lead Sponsor
Rush University Medical Center
Brief Summary

Homelessness and associated traumas disproportionately impact women relative to men. Women who have experienced homelessness (WEH) universally face traumatic stress, often before becoming homeless and while experiencing homelessness.

For WEH who are incarcerated, additional trauma may occur while in correctional settings. Black WEH are disproportionately impacted by trauma, homelessness, and incarceration, as is related to structural and individual racism and discrimination (racial trauma).

Detailed Description

Homelessness and associated traumas disproportionately impact women relative to men. Women who have experienced homelessness (WEH) universally face traumatic stress, often before becoming homeless and while experiencing homelessness. For WEH who are incarcerated, additional trauma may occur while in correctional settings. Black WEH are disproportionately impacted by trauma, homelessness, and incarceration, as is related to structural and individual racism and discrimination (racial trauma). In our stepwise, multi-year research process, across hundreds of interviews, WEH identified trauma as their priority health issue. In response to a dearth of culturally acceptable trauma care models, our team pilot tested Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)-a brief, human rights-informed treatment for complex PTSD in resource-limited settings. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), we seek to understand whether supplementing nurse-delivered NET with peer/program support will strengthen its effects on PTSD, co-occurring symptoms, and social determinants of health outcomes compared to an attentional control, while optimizing implementation outcomes.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
WITHDRAWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
420
Inclusion Criteria
  • self-identifies as a woman
  • ≥18 years of age
  • history of homelessness or currently experiencing homelessness (HRSA criteria)
  • affected by trauma-related distress (≥1 on Life Events Checklist + PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 ≥28)
  • at least 75% of the sample must self-identify as Black/African American
Exclusion Criteria

• impaired decisional capacity (UC-San Diego Brief Assessment ≤14.5)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomsEligibility Screening; Pre-/Post-Assessment (week 4); Follow-up Assessments (weeks 10 and 16)

PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 (PCL-5). Higher score = worse outcome. Range: 0-80.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Depressive symptomsPre-Assessment (week 0), Post-Assessment (week 4); Follow-up Assessments (weeks 10 and 16)

Patient Depression Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Higher score = worse outcome. Range: 0-27.

Sleep symptomsPre-Assessment (week 0), Post-Assessment (week 4); Follow-up Assessments (weeks 10 and 16)

Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS). Higher score = worse outcome. Range: 0-40.

AnxietyPre-Assessment (week 0), Post-Assessment (week 4); Follow-up Assessments (weeks 10 and 16)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Higher score = worse outcome. Range: 0-21.

SomatizationPre-Assessment (week 0), Post-Assessment (week 4); Follow-up Assessments (weeks 10 and 16)

Somatic Symptoms Scale (SSS-8). Higher score = worse outcome. Range: 0-32.

Substance usePre-Assessment (week 0), Post-Assessment (week 4); Follow-up Assessments (weeks 10 and 16)

Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medications, and other Substance (TAPS) tool. TAPS-1, is a four-item screening that asks about substance use in the past 12 months.

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.