VA Office of Research and Development
Many Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not fully benefit from the best current treatments, some of which focus on helping the brain regulate trauma memories. While therapies like Prolonged Exposure and Written Exposure Therapy work for many, about half of Veterans still struggle with symptoms even after treatment. Research suggests that methylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin), a safe and widely used medication, may improve PTSD symptoms and related mechanisms. This project will test whether adding methylphenidate to Written Exposure Therapy will result in a greater reduction in PTSD symptoms compared to Written Exposure Therapy alone. The investigators will also study body and behavior markers to better understand how and why some Veterans respond to treatment. If successful, this approach could give providers a new, practical tool to improve recovery from PTSD. Ultimately, this work could lead to more personalized, effective care for Veterans, helping them return to fuller and healthier lives.
There is a critical need for novel, and efficacious treatment strategies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Veterans. Gold standard treatments at the VA include evidence-based therapies that leverage fear extinction mechanisms such as Prolonged Exposure and Written Exposure Therapy (WET). Although these treatments are effective, \~50% of Veterans do not show remission after treatment, indicating efforts to further enhance treatment efficacy are critical. Preclinical, translational, and clinical studies support the potential success of using methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin) to improve P…
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Veteran 2. Current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms 3. Medically healthy 4. Body weight of ≥ 120 pounds (55 kilograms) 5. Participants must be able to participate and willing to give written informed consent and to comply with the study restrictions Exclusion Criteria: 1. Major medical issues 2. Medical conditions that could alter the absorption, metabolism or elimination of study drug 3. Family history of sudden death or ventricular arrhythmia 4. History of glaucoma 5. History, including family history, of motor tic or diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome 6…
WET will administered per manualized protocol, either in-person or via telehealth technology
active medication
non-active medication
Arctuva estimate
Actual pay is set by the research site.
Verify or correct the compensation shown for this listing.