The current investigation uses a brain-based technique, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which has helped to treat depression, to try to stimulate those brain regions understood to be essential to emotional experience and impaired in PTSD. In summary, the aim is to enhance emotion engagement and regulation and possibly uncover new brain-based interventions that could help ready the brain so an individual with PTSD could then fully engage and thus optimize emotion-focused psychotherapy.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, debilitating condition that affects our nation's Veterans at staggering rates. The purpose of this study is to examine the ability of a medication (oxytocin) to enhance Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PE is a widely used cognitive behavioral intervention (talk therapy) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In order to accomplish this goal, we are recruiting participants for a clinical trial. Participants enrolled in this trial will complete 10 weeks of a treatment phase, that includes weekly doses of either the investigational study medication or an inactive placebo. In addition, all participants will receive 10 weekly sessions of PE talk therapy. Once per week before each therapy session, participants will take a dose of medication intranasally. This study has the potential to improve patient care practices, advance the science in this area, and decrease public health costs.

The purpose(s) of the research is to test a new medication in combination with a talk therapy for Veterans experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and who may have alcohol use disorder (AUD). The study consists of 12 weekly therapy sessions. Once per week before each therapy session, an intranasal dose of investigational medication will be administered. The study also involves 3 and 6-month follow-up appointments and the administration of questionnaires at each visit.

The need to advance knowledge and increase access to treatment for co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) is a priority for service members and Veterans. PTSD and SUD often co-occur and are two of the most common and debilitating mental health disorders among service members and Veterans. However, few providers are trained in this approach and therefore are not prepared to deliver best practice care to Veterans who need integrated PTSD/SUD treatment.
This project will directly address this critical gap in provider training to improve the care of Veterans with comorbid PTSD/SUD, by providing development and testing of a web-based provider training course for concurrent treatment of PTSD and SUD Using prolonged exposure (COPE).

A large proportion of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) also meet criteria
for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma-focused, cognitive-behavioral therapy delivered alongside interventions for substance use disorders are most effective. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD and Relapse Prevention (RP) for AUD are two of the most widely used and effective treatments for these
conditions. The purpose of this study is to examine the CPT-RP, as compared to RP alone, in reducing (1) alcohol use frequency and quantity and (2) PTSD symptom severity among individuals with current AUD/PTSD.

Researchers recently developed two new, computer-administered, brief questionnaire assessments of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study is to determine if these new assessments are accurate by comparing them with existing assessments for PTSD. To do this, we plan to administer the new questionnaires, existing questionnaires, and interview questions to 350 veterans with and without PTSD.

Veterans will be recruited from the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System and Savannah CBOC.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two psychological treatments for the reduction of suicide attempts among U.S. military personnel and veterans, and to identify the reasons why and how these treatments work.

Specifically, this study is looking at the efficacy of two interventions. The first intervention is Present Centered Therapy (PCT). This treatment has been shown to reduce depression, PTSD symptoms, and suicidal thoughts. The second intervention is Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT). This treatment has also been shown to reduce depression, PTSD symptoms, and suicidal thoughts.

Both treatments involve a total of 12-16 sessions scheduled once or twice each week. Patients who have received either treatment have reported significant reductions in suicidal thoughts and psychological symptoms. These two treatments differ from each other with respect to the specific procedures and techniques used. The purpose of this study is to determine if one treatment works better than the other, or if they are equal to each other with respect to outcomes.

This study is only open to Veterans at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System and CBOCs or active duty military personnel in the Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA areas.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem that results in significant health and economic burdens including mortality, morbidity, and poor treatment outcomes. A well-developed field of research suggests that alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can lead to IPV. Individuals with PTSD and/or problematic drinking behaviors are at risk for IPV because of several factors that are common symptoms of PTSD. Because individuals with PTSD often drink alcohol to "self-medicate" or cope with distressing PTSD symptoms, PTSD co-occurs with alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder at extraordinarily high rates. However, few studies have examined the combined effects of alcohol misuse and PTSD on any form of violence.

This study will examine the effects of alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on alcohol-related intimate partner violence (IPV). We will examine these associations among couples (N=70) in a controlled laboratory setting using validated, standardized methods in a 'real-world' settings using 28 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). EMA includes very short surveys (5 minutes or less) that participants respond to on a smartphone application. Participants will be asked to respond to these surveys in the morning and three additional times throughout the day.

The purpose of this study is to get feedback on an existing augmented reality (AR) software developed by researchers at Wayne State University (phase I) and then use the refined software, along with Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy to treat Veterans and military personnel with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

AR involves wearing goggles through which you can see the real world, however virtual objects can be added to the environment (for example, like in the popular phone game Pokemon Go).

The technology was originally designed to help first responders, specifically police and firefighters, to overcome their avoidance of normal life situations caused by their trauma experience and PTSD. This includes a crowded party, a grocery store, a police roll call room and a fire station. This technology is now being expanded to include other common scenarios that military personnel and Veterans with PTSD may avoid.

This study will occur in 2 phases. Phase 1 will focus on getting feedback on the AR program from people who have completed PE therapy before to refine the technology. In phase 2, 40 Veterans and military personnel will be randomly selected to receive PTSD therapy + the refined AR technology or PE therapy alone.

This study is open to Veterans and active duty military personnel. All study activities will take place at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System and surrounding community-based outpatient clinics. This study is not open to civilians/non military personnel at this time.

This study will test a therapy intervention, HOPE, for individuals with opioid use disorder and postttraumatic stress disorder. Interested individuals will need to be taking medications for opioid use disorder (e.g., suboxone, naltrexone, methadone). Interested participants will complete a 10-12 week therapy, and be asked to complete surveys.