MedTrace Logo

A Study of Sertraline to Prevent PTSD

NCT00182078 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE4 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 26

Last updated 2014-08-05

Study results available
· View outcomes & findings →

Summary

The broad, long-term objectives of this proposal are to prevent the emergence of posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms in children admitted for an acute burn, reconstructive surgery, or non-burn injury. This study is investigating the early use of a medication in the prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. Specific Aims 1 and 2: To assess the efficacy of sertraline to prevent the development of (Aim 1)posttraumatic stress disorder and (Aim 2)depression in children aged 6-20, after burn or non-burn injury or after reconstructive surgery. Hypotheses 1 and 2: Administration of sertraline after an acute burn or non-burn injury, or after reconstructive surgery will lead to greater reduction in post-traumatic and depressive symptoms over 12 and 24 weeks, compared with placebo.

This study is completing the evaluation of 90 children and adolescents, aged 6-20 years. It is comparing 60 subjects receiving sertraline with 30 placebo control subjects matched for age, severity of injury, and type of hospitalization (acute vs. reconstructive). Children and families are evaluated for the presence of acute stress symptoms. Children are reassessed in a double-blind placebo-controlled design, with evaluations at Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 24. In addition, there is weekly monitoring for the first 14 weeks of the study and again at 18 weeks (the midpoint of the study). At each reassessment, information is collected on the child's compliance with the study medication, the parents' assessment of the child's functioning, and the child's self-report of posttraumatic and depressive symptomatology. The main outcome variable used in this study is the child's posttraumatic symptoms.

Conditions

Interventions

DRUG

Placebo

The placebo was administered for 24 weeks on a flexible fixed schedule beginning at 25mg per day, and increasing as high as 150 mg/day. Both groups received the assigned medication and dose over a 24-week period. At Week 12, the placebo was tapered at a rate of 25mg every 3 days until it was discontinued.

DRUG

Sertraline

The drugs were administered for 24 weeks on a flexible fixed schedule beginning at 25mg per day, and increasing as high as 150 mg/day. Both groups received the assigned medication and dose over a 24-week period. At Week 12, the medication was tapered at a rate of 25mg every 3 days until it was discontinued.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Frederick J Stoddard, M.D. · Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
6 Years
Max Age
20 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2002-11-30
Primary Completion
2006-07-31
Completion
2006-07-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Drugs
Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00182078 on ClinicalTrials.gov