Evaluating a brief novel treatment for COVID-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Health and Social Care workforce: a pre-RCT preparatory study

Background High levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are reported in frontline health and social care workers (HSCW) who have worked through the pandemic. These levels of PTSD are comparable to those in military veterans who have been involved in warfare. Staff with PTSD present a patient safety risk due to high staff absences and mistakes. Currently the best treatment available for PTSD is lengthy, costly and 30% of people undertaking this treatment drop out before the end. New PTSD treatments are therefore needed. In an ongoing study we are looking at one new treatment called Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) in 60 military veterans with PTSD. RTM treatment is much shorter, and therapists can be quickly trained. In our review of research that has taken place, six small studies show that it looks promising in removing symptoms of PTSD 12 months later. Aims Our study aims to develop an RTM treatment route for health and social care workers with PTSD and to develop an understanding of what their employers consider to be important health benefits for their staff. Before we can proceed with the study in the NHS we need to understand three things better: 1) Do staff want to receive treatment and participate in research and how? 2) Can RTM training undertaken by veteran-charity therapists also be successfully taught to psychological therapists employed by the NHS? 3) What employer benefits are important to measure e.g. sickness-absence rates and/or mistakes made by staff while working. Design & Methods The main purpose of the study will be to develop a funding application to undertake further research of RTM to determine whether it works, how it works and is it safe compared to similar treatment. We propose a 3-phase study. Phase 1 will recruit 24 individuals made up of NHS and social care workers and families, NHS occupational health/staff health support managers, senior managers and members of the public to meet in groups to discuss and answer the research questions. Staff PTSD treatment routes within the NHS will be developed. Phase 2 will train and assess four psychological therapists in delivering RTM. Phase 3 will deliver RTM to twelve health and social care workers with PTSD to see if they will start therapy and take part as research participants. Patient and Public Involvement Three frontline staff, two public contributors and seven other stakeholders informed the research design, the lay summary and will support the funded study. Research outputs The results, together with those of the veteran trial and our review of previous research, will support a funding application in late 2022 to test whether RTM can be proven to be a successful treatment within the NHS.