Notes from Nick: Updated on 6/6/23 with Phase IV Data

The Study Characteristics dataset includes basic information about study design. In addition to study class, the dataset includes clinical setting, whether the study looked at PTSD symptom clusters, whether there were any subgroup analyses, type of diagnostic measure used (e.g., diagnostic interview, self-report), and provider credentials. Use this dataset to better understand the variety of RCT designs employed, compare studies by study class or to identify gaps in the literature for potential new RCTs. Visualizations made from this dataset will be based on the [NUMBER] RCTs included in the PTSD-Repository. Values reported as "NA" or not reported "NR" by the study are null values (empty cells). Data is at the study level.

The Study Characteristics dataset includes basic information about study design. In addition to study class, the dataset includes clinical setting, whether the study looked at PTSD symptom clusters, whether there were any subgroup analyses, type of diagnostic measure used (e.g., diagnostic interview, self-report), and provider credentials. Use this dataset to better understand the variety of RCT designs employed, compare studies by study class or to identify gaps in the literature for potential new RCTs. Visualizations made from this dataset will be based on the [NUMBER] RCTs included in the PTSD-Repository. Values reported as "NA" or not reported "NR" by the study are null values (empty cells). Data is at the study level.

Notes from Nick: Updated on 6/6/23 with Phase IV Data

Each study in the PTSD-Repository was coded for risk of bias (ROB) in specific domains as well as an overall risk of bias for the study. Detailed information about the specific coding strategy is available in Comparative Effectiveness Review [CER] No. 207, Psychological and Pharmacological Treatments for Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. (See our "Risk of Bias" data story.)
Most domains were rated as Yes (i.e., minimal risk of bias), No (i.e., high risk of bias) or Unclear (i.e., bias could not be determined). The overall study rating is based on the domains and is coded as low, medium or high risk of bias. The 4 domains that were included as components of the overall rating include: Selection bias--randomization adequate, allocation concealment adequate, groups similar at baseline and whether they used intention to treat analyses; Performance bias--care providers masked and patients masked; Detection bias--outcome assessors masked; Attrition bias--overall attrition less than or equal to 20% vs over 20%; differential attrition less than or equal to 15% vs over 15%.
Additional items assessed (but not considered as part of the overall rating) include: Reporting bias--all prespecified outcomes reported; Reporting bias--method for handling dropouts; Outcome measures equal valid and reliable; Study reports adequate treatment fidelity based on measurements by independent raters.

The Other Outcomes dataset includes information on whether the trial includes measures of depression, anxiety, substance use, sleep, anger, quality of life and functioning. Results in this dataset are provided for each treatment arm. The name of the measure is included as well as the between-group effect sizes. Use this dataset to learn how about the effects of PTSD treatments on other outcomes.
Values abstracted as not applicable ("NA") or not reported ("NR") from the study are null values (empty cells).
Study level variables, like military status and percent female, are included for ease of filtering. These columns are not individual arm or arm comparison level data.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has established a long-term partnership to commission AHRQ to utilize its Evidence-based Practice Centers to develop update reviews to inform the VA’s PTSD-Repository – a publicly accessible clinical trials database maintained by the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD).

The 2023 Report, Executive Summary and Evidence Tables (Appendix E, F, G1, & G2) are included in the downloadable .zip file. For more information, visit AHRQ's page: https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/ptsd-pharm-non-pharm-treatment/research

This table demonstrates how you might group together standardized treatments found in the PTSD-Repository to progressively move toward less specificity in classification. The example provided includes psychotherapy categories and is not exhaustive to all treatments found in the PTSD-Repository.