STRONG STAR consortium leads fight against combat-related PTSD | Living

For Soldiers experiencing the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and the STRONG STAR program provide access to the latest, most innovative care available for the treatment of this common warfighting mental health condition.

Headquartered at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, STRONG STAR operates one of its largest clinical research hubs at Fort Cavazos in close partnership with CRDAMC.

Through collaborations with more than 150 investigators across over 50 academic, military and Department of Veterans Affairs institutions nationwide, the consortium’s mission is clear: develop and deliver evidence-based strategies that improve the psychological health of service members and veterans, helping them remain mission-ready and resilient in the face of adversity.

For nearly two decades, the STRONG STAR consortium has stood at the forefront of advancing research and treatment for combat-related PTSD and its most frequent co-occurring conditions.

Over the past 17 years, the consortium has contributed to groundbreaking improvements in the understanding, assessment, diagnosis and clinical management of military-relevant psychological health issues.

“The STRONG STAR team’s aim is to improve the effectiveness, as well as applicability, of existing treatment methods for our warfighters, to ensure that they not only get better care now, but also reap benefits in the future as a direct result of these studies,” noted Col. Amit Gupta, CRDAMC and Fort Cavazos director of psychological health, about the integration of cutting-edge science into daily clinical practice at Fort Cavazos. “We are fortunate to have this collaboration with a top-notch team that clearly cares about taking care of our Soldiers and families.”

Fort Cavazos is currently hosting several ongoing or newly funded clinical treatment trials through STRONG STAR, many of which offer service members and veterans access to leading-edge assessments and therapies not currently available at other military facilities.

One such innovative study at CRDAMC is exploring whether combining a cutting-edge medical procedure with traditional behavioral therapy can enhance treatment outcomes for PTSD. The trial pairs prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, a well-established evidence-based approach for treating PTSD, with a stellate ganglion block (SGB) — a quick, minimally invasive procedure that targets the sympathetic nervous system to potentially reduce PTSD symptoms, such as hyperarousal and anxiety.

“STRONG STAR has assessed and treated thousands of our service members on Fort Cavazos with the goal of maximizing service members’ psychological health to improve readiness,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of Fort Cavazos and III Armored Corps. “Our partnership with STRONG STAR serves as a force multiplier by developing and sharing best clinical practices across the Military Health System. This amazing program increases our warfighting ability and overall lethality by focusing on Soldier care.”

In addition to individual treatments, STRONG STAR also recognizes the critical role that family support plays in service members’ mental health.

To address importance of the family unit in treatment plans, the consortium offers an additional resource located in the Shoemaker Center at Fort Cavazos — the STRONG STAR Strong Families Support and Prevention Program for service members, veterans and their families.

This program provides two tracks of care designed to enhance both trauma recovery and family resilience:

• Trauma track: Offers evidence-based therapy to treat PTSD in the context of family life, helping improve communication, emotional connection and everyday functioning during recovery from trauma.

• Prevention track: Focuses on proactive support for families navigating military-related stressors, such as deployment, relocation or reintegration. Emphasis is placed on strengthening communication, co-parenting skills and emotional resilience before issues escalate.

For more information about the trial pairing PE therapy with a SGB or to find out about eligibility, visit strongstar.org/sgbperct , call 254-258-8574 or email Paul Fowler at [email protected]. Details are also available online at strongstar.org/treatment.

Qualified active-duty service members and military retirees who participate in this study will receive a single SGB injection followed by 10 therapy sessions over two consecutive weeks.

Families interested in learning more or enrolling in services can call 254-289-3468 or visit strongstar.org/strongfamilies. To receive help directly, click the “Get Treatment” button at the bottom of the page.

Those worried about themselves or a loved one can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where anyone lives in the United States, they can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.