University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Project Remission: Intensive Outpatient PTSD Treatment for Texas Gulf Coast Region Veterans

One of the most effective treatments for PTSD is Prolonged Exposure (PE), a cognitive-behavioral therapy in which patients are traditionally treated through weekly 90-minute sessions for 10-12 weeks. Unfortunately, PE is not currently available to many Texas Gulf Coast veterans. Work schedules that prohibit attending weekly appointments, living in an area with limited mental health resources, and limited or no access to expert PE therapists are just a few barriers that can interfere with Texas Gulf Coast veterans receiving outpatient PE. Access to PE is even more difficult to secure for veterans who do not qualify for VA services. This grant, made possible by a partnership between the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the Qatar Harvey Fund, will build upon STRONG STAR’s recent Project Remission randomized clinical trial (RCT). Project Remission: Intensive Outpatient PTSD Treatment for Texas Gulf Coast Region Veterans will provide effective cutting-edge PTSD treatment to 40 veterans from the Texas Gulf Coast region through a 3-week, intensive, individualized, daily outpatient program using a Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy protocol. The intensive outpatient format, coupled with travel assistance to the San Antonio program location, ensures that Texas Gulf Coast veterans will receive high-quality treatment with expert PE providers. The daily format also increases the potential for rapid recovery. Importantly, this program targets patients’ top three most distressing traumas to achieve greater symptom reduction and improved functioning for veterans suffering from the most severe PTSD, and thus stands apart from most PE programs that address only a veteran’s single worst trauma.