Extended Group Written Exposure Therapy for Comorbid PTSD and BPD (Traits)

Extended Group Written Exposure Therapy for Comorbid PTSD and BPD (Traits)

The goal of this open label trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual group extended Written Exposure Therapy (GE-WET) in reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms in patients with comorbid PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or BPD traits. GE-WET involves attending weekly 2-hour group WET sessions for the duration of 10 weeks, in which they write about their trauma experience using specific instructions.

This study will be conducted at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's Community Psychiatry Clinic with clients wait listed for PTSD treatment (ages 18- 65, any gender, co-morbid PTSD and BPD/BPD traits).

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Does GE-WET reduce PTSD symptoms (based on PCL-5 measures) in this population (outpatient clients ages 18-65 of any gender, with a diagnosis of PTSD and BPD or BPD traits)?

Does GE-WET result in reduced drop-out rates for this population, compared to that of other evidence-based treatment for PTSD?

What are participants subjective experience of GE-WET?

Inclusion Criteria:

• Reading and writing proficiency in English
• Access to an electronic device to attend virtual group meetings
• Age 18-65
• Previous diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)/BPD traits
• Completion of a DBT skills group via St. Joe's Community Psychiatry Clinic

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of an active severe substance use disorder or psychotic disorder
• Untreated active psychotic symptoms, mania, or hypomania
• Has attempted suicide in the 2 months prior to treatment beginning
• Has engaged in high-risk self-harm (e.g., cutting, burning, asphyxiation) in the 2 months prior to beginning treatment
• Has completed Cognitive Processing Therapy or another active PTSD treatment (i.e., prolonged exposure) in the past year