Efficacy and Neural Mediators of Response to Trauma Management Therapy for PTSD
| Status: | Enrolling by invitation |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 65 |
| Updated: | 1/18/2019 |
| Start Date: | January 1, 2019 |
| End Date: | July 1, 2022 |
Social difficulties are serious and frequent complicating factors in the treatment of
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To better understand how treatment of post-traumatic
stress disorder impacts neural mechanisms of social cognition, the investigators are
examining behavior and brain processes associated with response to Trauma Management Therapy.
Understanding the behavioral and neural impact of psychotherapy may contribute to development
of more effective treatments for PTSD.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To better understand how treatment of post-traumatic
stress disorder impacts neural mechanisms of social cognition, the investigators are
examining behavior and brain processes associated with response to Trauma Management Therapy.
Understanding the behavioral and neural impact of psychotherapy may contribute to development
of more effective treatments for PTSD.
PTSD is associated with significant interpersonal difficulties that interfere with
functioning. As such, this work is intended to evaluate the empirical support for a novel
treatment that fills a significant gap in the treatment options available to Veterans with
PTSD who suffer with interpersonal difficulties. In this study the investigators will (i)
evaluate the efficacy of Trauma Management Therapy (TMT) for treating PTSD-related
interpersonal dysfunction, as well as PTSD-related fear and anxiety, and (ii) evaluate neural
mediators of clinical improvements associated with TMT.
This work will provide insights into the mechanisms by which treatments may lead to
improvements in social functioning, informing both the biological basis of psychotherapy and
the development and refinement of alternative therapeutic interventions targeting social
impairments.
Treatment seeking Veterans with PTSD will be randomized to one of two treatments: (i) Trauma
Management Therapy, consisting of 15 sessions of individualized exposure therapy followed by
14 sessions of group-based social and emotional rehabilitation, or (ii)
Exposure+Psychoeducation consisting of 15 sessions of individualized exposure therapy
followed by 14 sessions of group-based psychoeducation. Veterans enrolled in both the TMT and
EXP+EDU arms will undergo functional neuroimaging as they engage in an emotional image
viewing task, as well as two social interaction tasks. Neurobehavioral assessments will be
made prior to and following completion of treatment.
functioning. As such, this work is intended to evaluate the empirical support for a novel
treatment that fills a significant gap in the treatment options available to Veterans with
PTSD who suffer with interpersonal difficulties. In this study the investigators will (i)
evaluate the efficacy of Trauma Management Therapy (TMT) for treating PTSD-related
interpersonal dysfunction, as well as PTSD-related fear and anxiety, and (ii) evaluate neural
mediators of clinical improvements associated with TMT.
This work will provide insights into the mechanisms by which treatments may lead to
improvements in social functioning, informing both the biological basis of psychotherapy and
the development and refinement of alternative therapeutic interventions targeting social
impairments.
Treatment seeking Veterans with PTSD will be randomized to one of two treatments: (i) Trauma
Management Therapy, consisting of 15 sessions of individualized exposure therapy followed by
14 sessions of group-based social and emotional rehabilitation, or (ii)
Exposure+Psychoeducation consisting of 15 sessions of individualized exposure therapy
followed by 14 sessions of group-based psychoeducation. Veterans enrolled in both the TMT and
EXP+EDU arms will undergo functional neuroimaging as they engage in an emotional image
viewing task, as well as two social interaction tasks. Neurobehavioral assessments will be
made prior to and following completion of treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male and female veterans of all ethnicities
- Meet diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (assessed by study staff)
- Fluent in English
- Able to see computer display clearly
- Able to provide informed consent
- Able to follow written or verbal instructions
Exclusion Criteria:
- history of seizures
- history of stroke
- Cushing's syndrome
- history of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
- electroconvulsive therapy within 5 years
- history of chemotherapy for cancer
- contraindications to fMRI
- pregnancy
- diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder and/or
organic psychosis
We found this trial at
1
site
Salem, Virginia 24153
Principal Investigator: Brooks King-Casas, PhD
Phone: 540-982-2463
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