Published meta-analyses and literature reviews are critical to our understanding of PTSD treatment effectiveness. These sources are useful, but they can become outdated quickly and none include all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PTSD treatments. The field was lacking a single, comprehensive source of information that can answer questions about all types of interventions or other study details.

The PTSD Repository was designed to address these drawbacks. It brings together data from 496 published studies on a wide range of treatments and is updated annually to capture new studies. The information in it is wide in scope and rich in detail, including over 300 variables.

The PTSD Repository allows clinicians to easily identify all of the RCTs of specific treatments. We also write data stories on important research and treatment topics. 

Clinicians can refer patients to the “For Everyone” section of the PTSD Repository where we offer basic data stories. These stories explain what we know from PTSD treatment research using charts and tables–called visualizations. The stories for everyone offer information in smaller bits.

The PTSD Repository contains data from RCTs conducted in adults with PTSD published from January 1988 through February 2023. RCTs are studies that randomly assign the participants in the study to the treatments being examined.

Studies in the PTSD Repository are categorized into 8 types of treatment. See the graphic below which includes examples of each category (but is not exhaustive). Our Reference Guide: Treatments Found in the PTSD Repository  outlines the organization and provides definitions.

If a study compared more than 1 type of treatment, both treatment types were coded. For example, some studies are coded as psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and CIH or other mixed.

On the “For Providers” page, there is a table that can be filtered to search for all RCTs of any specific treatment. Or for an overview of the field, read our story, Which PTSD treatments have been studied?

The PTSD Repository is a project of the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD), the world's leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress. Through an interagency agreement with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), data were abstracted by the Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC), a research center at Oregon Health & Science University, following AHRQ's Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. This included convening a technical expert panel whose members represented a range of clinical and research perspectives on PTSD treatment. We consulted with these experts throughout the development process. We also received input from independent peer reviewers and sought public comment before publication, per AHRQ guidelines. Read more about the development process, annual reports and publications using PTSD Repository data. 

If you have any questions, reach out to us at NCPTSD@va.gov.