Writing-Based Therapy for Veterans With PTSD and Serious Mental Illness

This trial is testing Written Exposure Therapy (WET) — a newer, evidence-based treatment for PTSD that involves writing about traumatic experiences — for veterans who have both PTSD and serious mental illness like bipolar disorder or psychosis. The study wants to see if this treatment works well and is acceptable for this group of veterans, who have often been left out of past PTSD research. Half of the participants will receive WET, and half will receive education about PTSD, so researchers can compare how well the treatment works.

Many veterans struggle with both PTSD and serious mental illness, but they've rarely been included in clinical trials testing new PTSD treatments. Additionally, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color face higher rates and longer-lasting symptoms of both conditions, suggesting that PTSD treatments need to be delivered in ways that are culturally responsive and effective for all veterans.