The Sequenced Treatment Effectiveness for Posttraumatic Stress (STEPS) trial hopes to determine whether health care providers should recommend medications or talk therapy first to treat posttraumatic stress. In addition, for patients who do not respond to the first treatment we want to determine what providers should recommend next. The study runs for five and a half years and ends in 2024. Anyone who agrees to participate will be part of the study for eight months
There are three treatment options participants will be randomly assigned to:
Option 1 –
You and your provider pick one of three anti-depressants, and if the medication isn’t helpful after four months your provider will recommend that you switch to a different antidepressant.
Option 2 –
Similar to option 1 you and your provider will pick one of three anti-depressants. If you find the medication isn’t helpful after four months you will be scheduled for brief talk therapy in addition to continuing to take this medication.
Option 3 –
You will be scheduled for brief talk therapy, and if you report it isn’t helpful after four months you and your provider will choose between one of three antidepressants.
Participants will be compensated for their time by completing a series of 40 minute surveys conducted when they are enrolled, 4 months after enrollment, and 8 months after enrollment. Incentives come either as Visa gift cards or Amazon gift cards.
If you have any questions about STEPS, please click on the links below. You can also contact us by clicking here.