Nurse-Led Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

This trial tests a new program, NurseNET, which trains nurses to provide trauma care for people with PTSD. By offering a short-term treatment called Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), the study aims to determine if nurses can effectively help patients process difficult memories and improve PTSD symptoms. Researchers are interested in whether this nurse-led approach can facilitate access to care and improve health outcomes, such as blood pressure. The trial seeks primary care patients at Rush University Medical Center who have PTSD symptoms and have experienced a serious heart event in the last 90 days. As an unphased trial, this study presents a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance access to trauma care.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are actively receiving psychotherapy or PTSD treatment, you may not be eligible to participate.

Research has shown that Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), the foundation of the NurseNET program, is a well-accepted treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have demonstrated that NET effectively reduces PTSD symptoms, stress, and anxiety in participants. For instance, one study found that NET helped lower PTSD symptoms and stress in frontline healthcare workers. Another study showed that individuals with severe mental illness and PTSD from repeated trauma also experienced improvements with NET.

Researchers are excited about NurseNET because it's a fresh approach to treating PTSD by integrating therapy into primary care. Unlike traditional methods that often require specialized mental health professionals and longer sessions, NurseNET empowers primary care nurses to deliver a condensed version of Narrative Exposure Therapy in just four sessions. This innovative task-sharing model not only makes PTSD treatment more accessible but also fits seamlessly into regular healthcare visits, potentially improving patient outcomes by reaching individuals who might otherwise lack access to mental health services.

Research has shown that narrative exposure therapy (NET) effectively reduces symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Past studies have demonstrated significant decreases in PTSD symptoms, with improvements observed both immediately after treatment and at follow-up. For instance, one study found a strong reduction in symptoms right after treatment and even more improvement later. NET has successfully helped various groups, including refugees and veterans. In this trial, the NurseNET program aims to expand access to this proven therapy by training nurses to provide it in the experimental arm. By integrating NET into primary care, NurseNET could make PTSD treatment more accessible to those in need.¹⁴⁶⁷⁸