ONLINE THERAPY STUDY FOR WTC RESPONDERS AND SURVIVORS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) SYMPTOMS

If you worked or volunteered as a WTC responder after the 9/11 attacks or you were a survivor of the 9/11 WTC attacks, and you are still experiencing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to your WTC experience, you might be eligible to participate in an online research study that aims to treat PTSD symptoms. This study is for WTC responders and survivors who are not currently receiving psychotherapy or counseling.

If you are eligible to participate, the study treatment you will get will be chosen by chance, like flipping a coin. Neither you nor the study doctor will choose what study treatment you get. You will have an equal chance of being given one of two therapies: Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy or Internet-based supportive therapy. In this study, communication between participant and therapist is conducted exclusively across the Internet, in written form, through our secure Web platform. Through guided writing, online therapy aims to help WTC responders and survivors process their traumatic experiences or better manage current life problems.

Internet-based therapy has been used before as treatment for PTSD symptoms. In this study, we aim to find out if Internet-based therapy can help WTC responders and survivors who are still experiencing PTSD symptoms.  Each participant will be assigned a personal therapist to work with throughout the treatment.

On this page, you will find more information about PTSD and about the online therapies offered in this study. You will also find information about the steps required to determine whether or not you are eligible for this Internet-based therapy study.