Development of the PTSD-Repository: A Publicly Available Repository of Randomized Controlled Trials for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Given the extensive research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, a single, updatable repository of data from PTSD treatment studies would be useful for clinical, research, and policy stakeholders. To meet this need, we established a preliminary dataset of abstracted PTSD trial data, which serve as the basis for the PTSD Trials Standardized Data Repository (PTSD-Repository), maintained by the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD). We followed systematic review methods to identify published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PTSD interventions. We consulted with a panel of experts to determine a priori inclusion criteria, ensure that we captured all relevant studies, and identify variables for abstraction. We searched multiple databases for materials published from 1980 to 2018 and reviewed reference lists of relevant systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines. In total, 318 RCTs of PTSD interventions that enrolled almost 25,000 participants were included. We abstracted 337 variables across all studies, including study, participant, and intervention characteristics as well as results. In the present paper, we describe our methods and define data elements included in the data tables. We explain coding challenges, identify inconsistencies in reporting across study types, and discuss ways stakeholders can use PTSD-Repository data to enhance research, education, and policy. The abstracted data are currently publicly available on the NCPTSD website and can be used for future systematic reviews and identifying research gaps and as an information resource for clinicians, patients, and family members.