Extended Group Written Exposure Therapy for Comorbid PTSD and BPD (Traits)

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorSt. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

About this trial

The goal of this open label trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual group extended Written Exposure Therapy (GE-WET) in reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms in patients with comorbid PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or BPD traits. GE-WET involves attending weekly 2-hour group WET sessions for the duration of 10 weeks, in which they write about their trauma experience using specific instructions.

This study will be conducted at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's Community Psychiatry Clinic with clients wait listed for PTSD treatment (ages 18- 65, any gender, co-morbid PTSD and BPD/BPD traits).

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Does GE-WET reduce PTSD symptoms (based on PCL-5 measures) in this population (outpatient clients ages 18-65 of any gender, with a diagnosis of PTSD and BPD or BPD traits)?

Does GE-WET result in reduced drop-out rates for this population, compared to that of other evidence-based treatment for PTSD?

What are participants subjective experience of GE-WET?

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Reading and writing proficiency in English

Access to an electronic device to attend virtual group meetings

Age 18-65

Previous diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)/BPD traits

Disqualifiers

Diagnosis of an active severe substance use disorder or psychotic disorder

Untreated active psychotic symptoms, mania, or hypomania

Has attempted suicide in the 2 months prior to treatment beginning

Has engaged in high-risk self-harm (e.g., cutting, burning, asphyxiation) in the 2 months prior to beginning treatment

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Group Written Exposure Therapy

Treatment groups

63 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group