Randomized Trial of Prolonged Exposure (PE) vs. PE With PE Coach Among Veterans With PTSD
Thousands of mental health mobile applications (apps) are available but limited research has been conducted on their effectiveness. VA has been a leader in mental health mobile app development and must research whether these apps work, and if so, how? PE Coach is a well-designed treatment companion app to one of the most researched, efficacious psychotherapies for PTSD (prolonged exposure), a treatment that has been broadly disseminated throughout VA mental health clinics. Research suggests that VA therapists find the app helpful in supporting patients. Preliminary results suggest that Veteran patients prefer to receive therapy withPE Coach and Veterans complete more recovery-oriented homework when they do. This study will randomize 124 Veterans with PTSD to treatment with or without PE Coach. The project will evaluate the effect of the app on PTSD-related functioning, quality of life, and PTSD symptoms. The investigators will test whether the app improves functioning and symptoms, increases homework, and reduces drop out.
• Veterans aged 18-65
• enrolled in VA healthcare and eligible for VA PTSD psychotherapy
• current diagnosis of PTSD based on CAPS-5, Minimum total severity score of 26 or higher
• English language fluency
• willingness to participate in individual, in-person or telemental health PE psychotherapy including use of a mobile device