NCT07460817

A Brief Intervention for PTSD - BWRT

A Brief Intervention for PTSD Versus Treatment as Usual: Study Protocol for a Non-inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 82 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Bergen · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate if a novel brief intervention for Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is comparable to other traditional clinical interventions for symptom reduction.

Detailed description

Background: Although existing treatment methods are effective in alleviating PTSD symptoms, several barriers to care exist, such as waiting lines, avoidant tendencies, shame and stigma, potentially leading to fewer people seeking therapy or premature dropouts. A potential solution to battling these barriers is Brain Working Recursive Therapy (BWRT), a single-session intervention for PTSD. Although not yet subjected to empirical investigation, clinical experiences suggest an often immediate and long-lasting effect following the intervention related to patient's symptomatology and functional abilities. Methods: The current study protocol outlines a plan to conduct the first non-inferiority randomized controlled trial aimed to explore the efficacy of BWRT compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Eighty-two participants will be allocated at a 1:1 ratio to one of the following treatment conditions: (1) BWRT or (2) treatment as usual. Participants will be compared on several variables, including changes in PTSD symptoms (primary objective), and changes in perceived quality of life, rumination, functional and cognitive ability (secondary objective). Data collection will take place baseline (T1), three weeks post treatment (T2) and at 6-month follow-up (T3). Discussion: Should BWRT prove to be non-inferior to treatment as usual, this brief intervention may be an important contribution to future psychological treatment for PTSD, by making trauma treatment more accessible and battling current barriers to care.

Conditions

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	BrainWorking Recursive Therapy	one session therapy
BEHAVIORAL	Treatment as usual	evidence-based therapy

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-02
• Primary completion: 2029-12-31
• Completion: 2029-12-31
• First posted: 2026-03-10
• Last updated: 2026-03-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Norway