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Treatment of Older Veterans With Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

NCT00539279 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 87

Last updated 2015-08-19

Study results available
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Summary

This project represents the first randomized clinical trial of psychotherapy for older veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It will compare relaxation training (RT) to prolonged exposure therapy (PE). The project will also examine whether cognitive impairment influences psychotherapy outcome.

Primary hypotheses: (1) Subjects in the PE condition will have significantly less severe PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and functional impairment than subjects in the RT condition at posttest; (2) Executive functioning will modify the response to both treatments, such that those with impaired executive functioning will demonstrate a smaller reduction in PTSD symptoms (representing less clinically significant change).

Conditions

  • Combat Disorders
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)

PE is a therapy that aims to reduce PTSD symptoms via a systematic exposure to feared memories (by imaginal exposure - repeated narration about the traumatic memory) and situations (by in vivo exposure - engaging in feared but safe activities or facing feared situations).

BEHAVIORAL

Relaxation Training (RT)

RT aims to teach relaxation methods in an effort to reduce anxiety. RT includes Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Imagery Rehearsal, and breathing training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Steven R. Thorp, PhD · VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
60 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2009-03-31
Primary Completion
2013-03-31
Completion
2013-03-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Companies

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 NCT00539279 on ClinicalTrials.gov