Research

Finding the best ways to prevent and treat psychological health problems in military service members, veterans, and first responders

Non-Trauma Intervention to Treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for Veterans and Service Members Suffering from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

PICindy McGeary, PhD
Location(s)Killeen, Texas
Aim

Develop, refine and pilot test a non-trauma intervention for PTSD tailored to military veterans and service members with TBI.

StatusCurrently recruiting for a pilot study to test the study’s modified non-trauma treatment intervention for PTSD

ASPIRED: Alleviating Suicidality by Combining Psychotherapy and IM Ketamine for Rapid Treatment in the Emergency Department – A Randomized Clinical Trial

PIRobert A. DeLorenzo, MD, MSCI, MSM, FACEP
Location(s)San Antonio, TX, and Killeen, TX
Aim

Evaluate the efficacy intramuscular (IM) ketamine, Crisis Response Planning, a combination of the two, or IM ketamine and safety planning placebos for the rapid reduction of suicidal ideation in patients treated in an emergency department.

StatusExpect to start enrolling participants in Spring 2026

Informing the Future of Psychological Health Care in the Military: The STRONG STAR-CAP Longitudinal Outcomes Project

PIAlan L. Peterson, PhD, ABPP (Lt Col, US Air Force, Ret.)
Location(s)San Antonio, TX
Aim

Leverage existing data in the STRONG STAR Repository with over 7,000 previous research participants, coupled with present-day long-term follow-up assessments with those individuals, to better understand the long-term psychological health impact, functioning, and treatment outcomes in military personnel who deployed in support of post-9/11 combat operations.

StatusIn progress

Executive Functions, Brain Games, and Brain Stimulation: An RCT for Mild TBI

PIThomas Coyle, PhD
Location(s)Killeen, Texas
Aim

Evaluate how effectively brain video games, brain stimulation, and the two combined improve cognitive function in military service members and veterans with mild traumatic brain injury.

StatusObtaining regulatory approvals in preparation for the randomized clinical trial; study recruitment expected to begin in Winter 2025/2026

Combining Esketamine and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD: A Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial

PICasey Straud, PsyD, ABPP
Location(s)San Antonio, Texas
Aim

Evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary benefit of intranasal esketamine delivered in combination with massed Prolonged Exposure as a standard of care for PTSD.

StatusEnrollment complete. Researchers analyzing study results.

BRAIN Health Project 4: Prognostic Screening for Poor BRAIN Health Outcomes following rmTBI and RHI

PIAnthony Kontos, PhD
Location(s)Fort Hood, Texas, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
Aim

Identify prognostic biological and clinical markers of chronic consequences of repeated mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI) and military occupational specialty (MOS)-related repeated head injury (RHI) exposure.

StatusExpected to begin recruitment in Fall 2025

BRAIN Health Project 1: Effects of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury BRAIN Health

PIAnthony Kontos, PhD
Location(s)Killeen, Texas, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Aim

Improve understanding of mild traumatic brain injury and BRAIN Health by evaluating the effects of repetitive mTBI on BRAIN Health using a quantitative, multidomain clinical and blood-based biomarker assessment.

StatusExpected to begin recruitment in late summer/early fall 2025

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia vs Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Military Personnel with Postconcussive Symptoms Following Mild TBI

PIKristi Pruiksma, PhD
Location(s)Killeen, Texas
Aim

Evaluate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (BBT-I) in an active military population suffering from insomnia after experiencing a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Determine the optimal behavioral insomnia treatment in this population; explore whether insomnia treatment improves other TBI-related symptoms; and explore if insomnia treatment improves brain functioning.

StatusCurrently enrolling research participants

Crisis Response Planning for Military Personnel with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

PIHannah Tyler, PhD, ABPP, LPC-S & Craig Bryan, PhD, ABPP
Location(s)Killeen, Texas
Aim

Evaluate the efficacy of Crisis Response Planning as a secondary suicide prevention intervention compared with Treatment as Usual among military service members who are at elevated risk for suicide due to their history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

StatusStudy enrollment expected to begin in Summer 2025

Augmenting Massed Cognitive Processing Therapy to Prevent Suicide Risk Among Patients With PTSD

PICraig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP
Location(s)Killeen, Texas
Aim

Determine if the addition of Crisis Response Planning to massed Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD reduces suicide attempts among military personnel with diagnosed or subthreshold PTSD and suicide ideation; identify early markers of treatment response and relapse of suicide risk; and identify treatment content and design features that influence treatment effectiveness and acceptability.

StatusStudy enrollment expected to begin in Summer 2025