Neural Control and Cardiac-Vascular Function in Women With PTSD (VA Psychological Assessment)

Summary

The purpose of this research is 1) to investigate the role of the sympathetic nervous system and cardiac-vascular function in women with PTSD; and 2) to determine whether lifestyle modifications (exercise training and healthy eating) would be effective in reducing sympathetic activity, improving cardiovascular function, and improving psychiatric and quality of life outcomes in women with PTSD. It is hypothesized that (1) women with PTSD will have over-activation of the sympathetic nervous system and impaired cardiac-vascular function compared with women who are trauma free, and (2) lifestyle modifications can reduce sympathetic activity, improve cardiac-vascular function, and improve psychiatric symptoms and quality of life in women with PTSD.

Conditions

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Exercise training and healthy eating (overseen by IEEM research team)

Exercise Training: A "personalized" training program will be developed for participants. Based on maximal steady state heart rate and resting heart rate, three training zones (recovery, base pace, and maximal steady state) will be determined. The target heart rate for each training zone will be set for each patient. The majority of training sessions during the early phase of the program will be prescribed as "base pace" with target heart rate equivalent to about 75% of maximal. Initially, patients will train 3 times per week for 20-30 minutes per session by walking, jogging or swimming. As the patients become relatively fit, the duration of the base training sessions will be prolonged, and subsequently sessions of increased intensity (i.e., maximal steady state) will be added. Healthy Eating: Participants will be provided with dietary advice consistent with the American Heart Association guidelines (D.A.S.H. diet eating plan).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Texas Health Resources

  collaborator OTHER

• North Texas Veterans Healthcare System

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Geetha Shivakumar, MD, MS · Dallas VA Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-03-27

Primary Completion

2018-01-09

Completion

2018-01-09

Countries

• United States

Study Locations