(Link to VA web page about this
program)
Overview:
This program is studying if
therapy can help Veterans and Service members improve their PTSD, their nightmares,
and their sleep. Participants go through
six weeks of gold-standard treatment for PTSD, and then either spend twelve weeks
in sleep-focused therapy, or traditional supportive therapy.
Who
Can Participate? Individuals who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and who have
military-related PTSD. This can include combat trauma,
military-sexual trauma, or military
accidents. Since the treatment is aimed at these symptoms, participants must
have significant problems with nightmares and insomnia. Participants must be
stable on their psychiatric medications, and not taking sleeping pills or
medications to treat nightmares. Participants must be eligible for care at either
Naval Medical Center San Diego, or the San Diego VA.
What
is Involved? Participants will be asked questions
about their PTSD and trauma in an interview that lasts several hours. You will also be asked to wear a wrist-watch
like device that monitors how much you sleep.
If you qualify for treatment, you will receive six weeks of twice-a-week,
individual, ninety-minute sessions using exposure therapy, followed by twelve
weeks of once a week sessions with either sleep-focused treatment or supportive
therapy. Participants must give up other individual and group therapy during
this time.
Why
do this type of treatment?: Insomnia is a core symptom of PTSD,
and it is possible that improving sleep may allow other PTSD symptoms to
improve more dramatically.
Can
I be in other treatment at the same time?
You may continue in medical treatment, and continue to
take your medication, but we ask that you not do any other sort of
psychotherapy, take sleeping pills, or add new psychiatric medications during
treatment.
What
if I do the treatment and don’t get better?
If your PTSD
symptoms are not resolved we will refer you into a different type of treatment.
Do I
have to pay for this, or will I be paid to participate? Treatment is free, and
likewise no payment is offered to participants.
What
if I don’t like the treatment? Participation is entirely voluntary, and you
may leave treatment at any time. If you
desire, we will refer you to a different type of treatment.
To
participate in the program, please e-mail Robert.McLay
{at} med.navy.mil or contact the VA directly using the link at the top of the
page.