About

Professor Christy Capone is affiliated with the Innovations in PTSD Treatment and Research Lab (IPTR) at Brown University and the VA. The lab focuses on advancing the field of PTSD treatment and research specifically for military Veterans affected by trauma. Professor Capone and her colleagues collaborate as researchers and clinicians to develop novel approaches aimed at improving clinical practice for Veterans with PTSD. Their work integrates multiple lines of research, including neuroscience, psychotherapy, and complementary interventions, to address PTSD and related challenges. The research conducted under Professor Capone's guidance prioritizes enhancing Veterans' quality of life and functioning beyond merely reducing symptoms. The overarching goal is to deepen understanding of how individuals recover from trauma and to deliver effective clinical care that is directly informed by research, ultimately improving the lives of Veterans and their families.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapist
• Clinical psychology
• Social psychology
• Internal medicine
• Political Science
• Medical emergency
• Law

Selected publications

• MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Veterans with PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorders: Considerations for Randomized Controlled Trials

  Alcohol · 2026-04-07

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Neuroimmune Mechanisms Underlying MDMA-Assisted Therapy in Veterans with Comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

  Alcohol · 2026-04-07

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Mindful Self-Compassion for Veterans with Morally Injurious Experiences and Co-Occurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorder: A Feasibility Study

  Journal of Dual Diagnosis · 2025-04-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  : The open-label design and small sample size preclude conclusions regarding efficacy. However, these preliminary findings are encouraging and suggest further investigation of MSC as a compliment to existing trauma-related therapies (NCT03681288).

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Changes in suicidal ideation in a randomized clinical trial for trauma-related guilt in post 9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans

  Journal of Psychiatric Research · 2025-10-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Psychedelics for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Narrative Review with Candidate Mechanisms of Action

  CNS Drugs · 2025-07-10 · 4 citations

  review
  PublisherDOI

• Reduction in reintegration stress among post-9/11 Veterans in a clinical trial for trauma-related guilt

  Military Psychology · 2025-03-26 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  = 0.57 at 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments, respectively. Targeting trauma-related guilt may be an effective pathway to help facilitate the process of reintegration to civilian life for some Veterans.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Addressing pandemic-related guilt and shame in U.S. military veterans: A pilot randomized controlled trial of trauma-informed guilt reduction and supportive care therapy.

  Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy · 2025-10-23

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic created potentially morally injurious situations such as being unable to care for loved ones or making decisions that risked harming others. Such situations may elicit feelings of guilt and shame, which can lead to long lasting distress and functional impacts. This pilot study examined whether trauma-informed guilt reduction (TrIGR) reduced guilt and shame caused or worsened by the pandemic more than supportive care therapy (SCT). METHOD: , fifth edition, at baseline, posttreatment, and 1-month follow up. Linear mixed models examined within- and between-group changes over time. RESULTS: Both treatments reduced guilt and shame from baseline to posttreatment and 1-month follow up. Although TrIGR led to a more rapid reduction in shame by the end of treatment, SCT achieved comparable results at 1-month follow up. Among participants with PTSD, TrIGR resulted in greater reductions in guilt severity at follow up than SCT. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that veterans with PTSD and guilt may benefit more from trauma- or morally injurious event-focused interventions like TrIGR, while veterans without PTSD may be adequately supported by SCT. Larger, more diverse samples are needed to identify optimal approaches for guilt and shame arising from morally injurious events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

  PublisherDOI

• Design and methodology of the first open-label trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder: Considerations for a randomized controlled trial

  Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications · 2024-07-20 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co-occur and are associated with more severe symptomatology than either disorder alone, increased risk of suicide, and poorer response to existing treatments. A promising therapeutic intervention is the integration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psychotherapy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated MDMA- assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) as a Breakthrough Therapy for PTSD based on results from six Phase 2 clinical trials. Case data from the first study evaluating MDMA-AT study for AUD found the treatment was well tolerated and alcohol use was significantly reduced post treatment. Methods: = 12) with PTSD and AUD. Neuroimaging and biomarker data are included to evaluate brain changes, and neuroinflammation, pre-post treatment. Conclusions: The clinical component (comorbidity) and the regulatory processes (Schedule I drug) for setting up this clinical trial are long and complex. The research community will benefit from this work to establish common clinical trial outcomes, standardized protocols, and risk assessments for FDA approval. Clinicaltrialsgov: NCT05943665.

  PublisherDOI

• Changes in guilt cognitions mediate the effect of trauma‐informed guilt reduction therapy on PTSD and depression outcomes

  Journal of Clinical Psychology · 2024-02-10 · 4 citations

  article

  Abstract Objective Trauma‐informed guilt reduction therapy (TrIGR), a six‐session cognitive behavioral therapy targeting trauma‐related guilt and distress, reduces guilt and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, yet little is known regarding how and why TrIGR may be effective. Method This study examined treatment‐related changes in avoidant coping and trauma‐related guilt cognitions as possible mediators of treatment effects on PTSD and depression outcomes at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up. Data were from a randomized controlled trial for treatment of trauma‐related guilt comparing TrIGR and supportive care therapy among 145 post‐9/11 US veterans ( M age = 39.2 [8.1], 93.8% male). Results At pretreatment, most (86%) met PTSD criteria. Intent to treat analyses using parallel mediation models indicated changes in guilt cognitions, but not avoidant coping, mediated the effect of TrIGR on reducing PTSD severity at 3‐month ( a × b = −0.15, p < 0.01, 95% CI: [−0.24 to −0.06], p = 0.001) and 6‐month ( a × b = −0.17, 95% CI: [−0.26 to −0.07], p = 0.001) follow‐up. Similarly, changes in guilt cognitions, but not avoidant coping, mediated the effect of TrIGR on reducing depression severity at 3‐month ( a × b = −0.10, 95% CI: [−0.18 to −0.02], p = 0.02) and 6‐month ( a × b = −0.11, 95% CI: [−0.20 to −0.03], p = 0.01) follow‐up. Conclusions Compared to guilt cognitions, changes in avoidant coping were less integral to downstream PTSD and depression symptom reduction. Guilt cognition change may be a salient active ingredient of PTSD and depression treatment for those with trauma‐related guilt and a key therapy element to which providers should be attuned.

  PublisherDOI

• In the new era of psychedelic assisted therapy: A systematic review of study methodology in randomized controlled trials

  Psychopharmacology · 2024-04-29 · 20 citations

  reviewOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Sonya B. Norman

  National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

  66 shared

• Kendall C. Browne

  University of Puget Sound

  46 shared

• Erica Eaton

  Providence VA Medical Center

  44 shared

• Carolyn B. Allard

  University of California, San Diego

  39 shared

• Brittany Davis

  University of Maryland, College Park

  39 shared

• M. Tracie Shea

  32 shared

• Moira Haller

  National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

  25 shared

• Carolina L. Haass‐Koffler

  Allen Institute for Brain Science

  22 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

  University of Rhode Island