About this trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to test a brief, new psychotherapy (called Positive Processes and Transition to Health - Single Session, or PATH-SS) that aims to provide relief for people who are suffering after experiencing a sexual assault. This research will explore whether this new psychotherapy reduces sexual assault related distress, including posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does PATH-SS leads to improvements in PTSD and depression symptoms (pre- to post- and 1-month follow-up)? Do participants perceive PATH-SS to be acceptable, helpful, and do they complete/adhere to treatment? Participants will complete a pre-treatment/baseline assessment to confirm eligibility, and those who are eligible will receive the single-session intervention and will complete a post-treatment and a 1-month follow-up assessment of stressor-related symptoms.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Age range: from 18 to 65.
Has experienced unwanted sexual contact or sexual assault with a minimum of 12 weeks since the event and a maximum of 5 years since the event.
Residence in the state of Ohio.
Elevated symptoms on either the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS-5) or the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR), at least moderate: 18 on PDS-5 (Foa et al., 2016) and/or 11 on QIDS (moderate depression severity; Rush et al., 2003), with symptoms persisting for 1 month or longer.
Disqualifiers
Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, delusional disorder, or organic mental disorder as defined by DSM-5.
Current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, depression with psychotic features, or depression severe enough to require immediate psychiatric treatment (i.e., serious suicide risk with intent and plan).
Severe self-injurious behavior or suicide attempt within the previous three months.
Currently engaged in cognitive behavioral psychotherapy.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- PATH-SS