Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42378672›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2026

A Clinician-Supported Mobile App to Reduce Mental Health Symptoms Among World Trade Center Responders in Florida: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Mark J Macgowan, Kyle Possemato, Eric Kuhn, Nan Hu, Sandra Lowe, Stephanie Garcia, Isis Panellas, Arrianna Edwards, Victoria Gray, Ruth Marquez and 2 more

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mark J MacgowanSchool of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC5-513, Miami, FL, 33199, United States, 1 3053480427.ORCID 0000-0002-8505-5515
Kyle PossematoSyracuse VA Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-3456-9580
Eric KuhnVA National Center for PTSD, Palo Alto, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-1687-4987
Nan HuDepartment of Biostastistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-7828-4221
Sandra LoweIcahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-6456-5180
Stephanie GarciaDepartment of Biostastistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-8020-5799
Isis PanellasSchool of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC5-513, Miami, FL, 33199, United States, 1 3053480427.ORCID 0009-0003-0172-7981
Arrianna EdwardsSchool of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC5-513, Miami, FL, 33199, United States, 1 3053480427.ORCID 0009-0002-2482-594X
Victoria GraySchool of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC5-513, Miami, FL, 33199, United States, 1 3053480427.ORCID 0009-0008-9324-9396
Ruth MarquezDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, United States, 1 3053480427.ORCID 0000-0001-8466-0900
Luciana PittaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, United States, 1 3053480427.ORCID 0000-0002-2652-4182
Roberto G LucchiniDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, United States, 1 3053480427.ORCID 0000-0002-9723-0237

Funding

NIOSH CDC HHS U01 OH012773
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: World Trade Center (WTC) general responders (GRs) continue to experience long-term mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. A growing number of GRs reside in Florida, where barriers such as stigma, limited access to specialty care, and age-related limitations contribute to persistent unmet mental health needs. PTSD Coach, a mobile app originally developed for trauma-exposed veterans, has shown promise but has not been evaluated with WTC GRs or adapted for Spanish-speaking responders. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of Clinician-Supported (CS) PTSD Coach for reducing PTSD symptoms among English-speaking and Spanish-speaking WTC GRs living in Florida. Secondary objectives include evaluating effects on depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance; comparing CS PTSD Coach with Self-Managed (SM) PTSD Coach and a waitlist control; and adapting and delivering a Spanish-language version of the intervention. Methods: This study is a 3-arm randomized controlled trial comparing CS PTSD Coach, SM PTSD Coach, and a waitlist control for reducing PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance among English-speaking and Spanish-speaking WTC GRs living in Florida. A total of 120 participants are randomized and assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and a 12-week follow-up. CS PTSD Coach includes 4 clinician-guided sessions integrated with app-based activities, whereas SM PTSD Coach includes a single orientation session. Outcomes include PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and sleep disturbance (Insomnia Severity Index). Feasibility and acceptability are assessed using app use data, satisfaction ratings, and usability measures. Primary analyses focus on between-group differences after the intervention (8 weeks), with secondary longitudinal analyses incorporating all assessment time points. Results: The notice of award was received in September 2024, and institutional review board approval, including amendments, was granted in January 2025. Recruitment began in February 2025, with data collection initiated in March 2025. As of April 2026, 63 participants have been enrolled, and outcome data collection is ongoing. Data analysis will commence following completion of follow-up assessments, with dissemination of results anticipated in 2027. Conclusions: This trial will provide the first randomized controlled evaluation of a clinician-supported mobile PTSD intervention for WTC responders, including Spanish-speaking GRs. Findings will inform the feasibility, acceptability, and potential scalability of supported digital mental health interventions for aging, geographically dispersed disaster-exposed populations.

Indexed as

Emergency RespondersMobile ApplicationsSeptember 11 Terrorist AttacksStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultAnxietyDepressionFeasibility StudiesFemaleFloridaHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicanxietydepressionfirst respondersmobile healthmobile phoneposttraumatic stress disorderPTSDPTSD Coachrandomized clinical trialsleep problemsWorld Trade Center

Identifiers

PMID42378672
PMCPMC13318202

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.