Home › Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder › NCT06968832

Project COMET: Massed Prolonged Exposure for PTSD and SUD

Project COMET: Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Massed PTSD Treatment in a Community Substance Use Program

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18+
* Enrolled in SUD treatment at Gateway Community Services
* Meet DSM-5 criteria for a SUD (Tobacco Use Disorder alone not sufficient for inclusion)
* Meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD
* Able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* severe cognitive impairment
* current suicidal or homicidal intent requiring immediate treatment
* current unstable psychotic or manic symptoms not attributable to SUD

About the study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Massed Prolonged Exposure Therapy (M-PE) can improve PTSD symptoms and reduce substance use in adults receiving intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does M-PE reduce PTSD symptoms more effectively than trauma treatment as usual (TAU)? * Does M-PE reduce the number of days participants use substances? * How do patient-centered outcomes (such as depression, suicidal thoughts, and quality of life) differ between M-PE and trauma TAU? * Researchers will compare M-PE to treatment as usual to see if M-PE leads to better mental health and substance use outcomes and lower dropout rates.

Participants will:

* Attend multiple therapy sessions per week (M-PE) or receive usual care * Complete assessments at baseline, during treatment, end-of-treatment, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up * Share feedback through surveys and interviews about their experience in the program

What is being tested

• Massed Prolonged Exposure Therapy (M-PE) (behavioral)
• Standard outpatient SUD care (behavioral)

Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Participants: 168 · Started: Sep 2, 2025

Contact the study team

• Denise Hien Helen E. Chaney Endowed Chair in Alcohol Studies, Ph.D · Phone: 848-445-0749

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06968832

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Drug Use and Addiction

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.