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Trauma, PsychologicalHEALING-TRAUMANCT07897903

Group Cognitive Processing Therapy for Women Survivors of Gender-Based Violence: Feasibility Study

A study testing Group CPT + TAU (Experimental) in people with Trauma, Psychological and Traumatic Stress Disorder, run by Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a global health challenge requiring effective, evidence-based interventions, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Although clinical guidelines position individual CPT as a first-line treatment, evidence regarding its group format -despite it being the… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women only
What is being tested?
Group CPT + TAU (Experimental)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
10 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
15 Oct 2026to 1 Jul 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥ 18 years.
  • Exposure to at least one traumatic event (ITEM).
  • Active posttraumatic symptoms related to the event (PCL-5 score above cut-off >= 30).
  • Women in active psychological treatment at Grupo ABD, referred by their therapist.

Who cannot join

  • Active suicidal ideation at screening session (PHQ-9 item 9 and clinical judgment).
  • Intellectual disability or severe cognitive impairment.
  • Inability to commit to the intervention.
  • Concurrent trauma-focused individual or group psychotherapy (e.g., Prolonged Exposure, EMDR, CPT).

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Carmen Valiente Ots, PhD contact

+34913943135

mcvalien@ucm.es

Javier Galgo Bendito, PhD student contact

+34608011034

jgalgo@ucm.es

About this study

Official title: Healing Trauma From Gender-based Violence Through Group Cognitive Processing Therapy: A Single-Arm Feasibility Study (Phase 1)

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a global health challenge requiring effective, evidence-based interventions, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Although clinical guidelines position individual CPT as a first-line treatment, evidence regarding its group format -despite it being the original modality- remains limited. Given the potential of the group format to optimize costs and improve access to treatment in high-demand health systems, evaluating its feasibility and clinical efficacy is a priority.

Objectives: The project proposes a phased research study focused on the implementation, scalability, and clinical impact of group CPT for women who are victims of gender-based violence and exhibit post-traumatic symptoms. Phase 1 (feasibility study) aims to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the group CPT protocol.

Read more

Methodology: Phase 1 will involve a non-randomized pilot study with female victims of gender-based violence with post-traumatic symptomatology; participants will receive 12 sessions of group CPT. Feasibility will be assessed in this phase based on recruitment rates, adherence, and participant satisfaction. Clinical outcomes (PTSD symptoms, general psychopathology, emotional regulation, and well-being) will be measured at three time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up) using validated instruments.

Expected Results: "Healing Trauma"'s Phase 1 anticipates demonstrating high protocol feasibility and acceptability, as well as a clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and the other measured variables. Furthermore, the project expects to produce a standardized intervention manual that could, in the future, be revised for adaptation and transfer to other psychological care units.

Significance: The project will provide an optimized and scalable group CPT protocol, facilitating the democratization of access to evidence-based treatments -particularly in high-demand health systems- while fostering clinical psychological practice grounded in evidence and scientific rigor.

Read the detailed description

Background: Seven in ten people will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime; PTSD prevalence among women exposed to gender-based violence is estimated at 30-70%. Guidelines (NICE 2018, APA 2017, WHO 2013) recommend trauma-focused therapies, with CPT as a preferred first-line option. Group CPT could treat up to four times more patients with the same human resources, while simultaneously reducing isolation and normalizing trauma-related cognitions.

Intervention: 12 weekly 90-minute protocolized CPT group (8-10 participants) sessions led by two therapists trained in the protocol. CPT works with postraumatic symptoms through 1) training of cognitive restructuring techniques such as Socratic dialogue and ABC registers, 2) weekly homework and 3) psychoeducation across five themes usually affected after experiencing a traumatic event: safety, trust, power/control, esteem and intimacy. Participants complete one PCL-5 and PHQ-9 register at the start of each session.

Procedure: Grupo ABD therapists refer women in active psychological treatment who show posttraumatic symptoms. A screening session (sociodemographic form, ITEM, PCL-5, PHQ-9) is followed by an individual pre-intervention assessment by the research team (CAPS-5 interview, identification of the index trauma, and ITQ, SA-45, SPWB, SWLS and CERQ). The same battery is repeated post-treatment (plus CSQ) and at 6 months.

Being tested
Group CPT + TAU (Experimental)
Keywords
Trauma, Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Group Psychotherapy
Medical subject headings
Psychological Trauma, Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Wounds and Injuries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Group CPT + TAU (Experimental)Behavioural

    Group Cognitive Processing Therapy. 12 weekly 90-minute sessions, 8-10 participants, 1-2 trained co-therapists, Spanish translation of the Resick CPT manual; fidelity checklist and group supervision; between-session phone list; individual recap session for missed sessions.

Study groups in NCT07897903
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Cognitive Processing Therapy Group InterventionExperimentalGroup Cognitive Processing Therapy. 12 weekly 90-minute sessions, 8-10 participants, 1-2 trained co-therapists, Spanish translation of the Resick, Monson \& Chard (2017) CPT manual; fidelity checklist and group supervision; between-session phone list; individual recap session for missed sessions. Sessions include: psychoeducation and individual worksheets based on cognitive reestructuring techniques
Receives: Behavioral: Group CPT + TAU (Experimental)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Treatment retention/adherence

    Proportion of enrolled participants who complete the intervention (participants retention/adherance >= 75%).

    Measured: At the beginning of each session (all 12 weeks)

  2. Recruitment rate

    Participants enrolled

    Measured: Recruitment period

  3. Mean number of sessions attended and attrition rate

    Measured: At the beginning of each session (all 12 weeks)

  4. Client Satisfaction Questionnaire

    Acceptability will be assessed after the intervention using a participant satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ-8). The questionnaire will evaluate participants' perceived usefulness, relevance, comprehensibility, and overall satisfaction with the intervention. 8 items rated from 1 to 4. Total score ranges from 8 to 32. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction and acceptability (better outcome).

    Measured: Immediately after the intervention (week 12)

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Change in PTSD/CPTSD symptoms (I) at 12 weeks and 6 months

    PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2013).

    • 20 items rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Total score ranges from 0 to 80.
    • Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (more severe symptoms).

    Measured: Baseline, at the beginning of each session, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

  2. Change in PTSD/CPTSD symptoms (II) at 12 weeks and 6 months

    International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ; Cloitre et al., 2018).

    • 12 symptom items (6 PTSD, 6 Disturbances in Self-Organization) rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Symptom total score ranges from 0 to 48 (each of the two sets of items from 0 to 24).
    • Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (more severe symptoms).

    Measured: Baseline, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

  3. Change in PTSD/CPTSD symptoms (III) at 12 weeks and 6 months

    Impact of Trauma Questionnaire (Spanish questionnaire; "Cuestionario de Impacto del Trauma", CIT; Crespo, González-Ordi, Gómez-Gutiérrez, Santamaría, 2020).

    • 180 items related to different scales on PTSD symptomatology and comorbid symptomatology rated from 1 (never) to 5 (always).
    • Higher scores mean worse outcome (more severe symptoms).

    Measured: Baseline, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

  4. Change from psychopathological symptoms at 12 weeks and 6 months

    Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire (SA-45; Davison et al., 1997), a brief version of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R).

    • 45 items rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (a lot). It covers a total of 9 different symptomatic areas (e.g. depression, anxiety, interpersonal sensibility) and gives an overall severity score. Total score ranges from [0 to 180].
    • Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (more severe symptoms).

    Measured: Baseline, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

  5. Change from Well-being at 12 weeks and 6 months

    Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff \& Keyes, 1995).

    • 29 items rated from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). The SPWB evaluates 6 dimensions of psychological well-being: Self-acceptance, Positive relationships, Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Life purpose, and Personal growth. Scores ranges differ from scale to scale:
    • Self-acceptance [4-24]
    • Positive relationships [5-30]
    • Autonomy [6-36]
    • Environmental mastery [5-30]
    • Life purpose [4-24]
    • Personal growth [5-30]
    • Higher scores indicate a better outcome (more psychological wellbeing).

    Measured: Baseline, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

  6. Change from Satisfaction with life at 12 weeks and 6 months

    Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener et al., 1985).

    • 5 items rated from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Total score ranges from 5 to 35.
    • Higher scores indicate a better outcome (more satisfaction with life).

    Measured: Baseline, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

  7. Change from Emotion Regulation at 12 weeks and 6 months

    Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-short (CERQ-short; Garnefski \& Kraaij, 2007).

    • 18 items rated from 1 (almost never) to 5 (almost always). The CERQ-short evaluates 9 dimensions (composed by 2 items each): Self-blame, Acceptance, Rumination, Positive refocusing, Refocus on planning, Positive reappraisal, Putting into perspectiva, Catastrophizing, and Other-blame. Each dimension ranges from 5 to 10. Also, two big dimensions are calculated depending on the type of strategy:
    • Sum of the adaptive subscales (acceptance, positive refocusing, refocus on planning, positive reappraisal, putting into perspective; 10 items) ranges from 10 to 50. Higher scores indicate a better outcome.
    • Sum of the maladaptive subscales (self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, other-blame; 8 items) ranges from 8 to 40. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome.

    Measured: Baseline, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

  8. Change from Self-care at 12 weeks and 6 months

    Self-Care Scale (Spanish instrument; "Escala de autocuidado", Gonzalez et al., 2017),

    • 31 items rated from 1 (completely disagre) to 7 (completely agree). The scale evaluates dimensions: Self-destructive behaviors, Non-tolerance towards positive affect, Issues accepting help, Resentment due to non-reciprocity, No positive activities, and None attendace towards personal needs.
    • Higher scores indicate worse self-care.

    Measured: Baseline, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

  9. Change from depression at 12 weeks and 6 months

    Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroenke et al., 2001).

    • 9 items rated from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). Total score ranges from 0 to 27.
    • Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (more severe symptoms).

    Measured: Baseline, at the beginning of each session, end of treatment (week 12), and 6-month follow-up

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Oct 2026
  2. Study start15 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion20 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Jul 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
All participants will receive the same 12 weekly CPT group sessions. Assessments will be conducted before, after the intervention and at a 6-months follow-up, with no concurrent comparator group.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
10 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07897903
Sponsor's protocol ID
HT-F1-2026
Acronym
HEALING-TRAUMA
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
13 Oct 2026
Last updated
27 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Resick, P. A., Monson, C. M., & Chard, K. M. (2024). Cognitive processing therapy for PTSD: A comprehensive therapist manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Group CPT + TAU (Experimental) in people with Trauma, Psychological and Traumatic Stress Disorder, run by Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Carmen Valiente Ots, PhD (+34913943135, mcvalien@ucm.es), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Treatment retention/adherence (time frame: At the beginning of each session (all 12 weeks)). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07897903, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Oct 2026.

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