Trial Outcomes & Findings for Intranasal Insulin for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (NCT NCT04044534)

NCT ID: NCT04044534

Last Updated: 2026-07-13

Results Overview

The five-point CAPS-5 consists of 20 PTSD symptoms rated on a 0-4 scale (total range: 0-80) as follows: (1) 5 Intrusion symptoms (0-20), (2) 2 Avoidance symptoms (0-8), (3) 7 Cognitions and mood symptoms (0-28), and (4) 6 Arousal and reactivity symptoms (0-24). Higher scores represent a worse outcome (i.e., more PTSD symptoms). Findings are reported as change scores. For the medication group: CAPS score changes = CAPS score after taking medication for 1 week - CAPS score just before taking medication. For the placebo group: CAPS score changes = CAPS score after taking placebo for 1 week - CAPS score just before taking placebo. A negative value indicates a reduction in symptom severity.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

10 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

1 week

Results posted on

2026-07-13

Participant Flow

Four subjects were withdrawn from the study prior to receiving any study medications.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
All Participants (Crossover)
Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions (A or B). Subjects will take either 40 IU of insulin twice a day (80 IU per day) or placebo for one week for each drug, separated by a washout period (study drug free period) for 1 week
Overall Study
STARTED
6
Overall Study
COMPLETED
6
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Consolidated baseline characteristics for the 6 participants who completed the crossover study.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
All Participants (Crossover)
n=6 Participants
Subjects with PTSD will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions (A or B). Subjects will take either 40 IU of insulin twice a day (80 IU per day) or placebo for one week for each drug, separated by a washout period (study drug free period) for 1 week
Age, Continuous
38.83 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.60 • n=20 Participants • Consolidated baseline characteristics for the 6 participants who completed the crossover study.
Sex: Female, Male
Female
5 Participants
n=20 Participants • Consolidated baseline characteristics for the 6 participants who completed the crossover study.
Sex: Female, Male
Male
1 Participants
n=20 Participants • Consolidated baseline characteristics for the 6 participants who completed the crossover study.
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Latino
1 Participants
n=20 Participants • Consolidated baseline characteristics for the 6 participants who completed the crossover study.
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
5 Participants
n=20 Participants • Consolidated baseline characteristics for the 6 participants who completed the crossover study.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 week

The five-point CAPS-5 consists of 20 PTSD symptoms rated on a 0-4 scale (total range: 0-80) as follows: (1) 5 Intrusion symptoms (0-20), (2) 2 Avoidance symptoms (0-8), (3) 7 Cognitions and mood symptoms (0-28), and (4) 6 Arousal and reactivity symptoms (0-24). Higher scores represent a worse outcome (i.e., more PTSD symptoms). Findings are reported as change scores. For the medication group: CAPS score changes = CAPS score after taking medication for 1 week - CAPS score just before taking medication. For the placebo group: CAPS score changes = CAPS score after taking placebo for 1 week - CAPS score just before taking placebo. A negative value indicates a reduction in symptom severity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Intranasal Insulin
n=6 Participants
Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions (A or B). Subjects will take either 40 IU of insulin twice a day (80 IU per day) or placebo for one week for each drug, separated by a washout period (study drug free period) for 1 week.
Placebo
n=6 Participants
Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions (A or B). Subjects will take either 40 IU of insulin twice a day (80 IU per day) or placebo for one week for each drug, separated by a washout period (study drug free period) for 1 week
Change in PTSD Symptoms on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) From Pre- to Post-Intervention
-7.33 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.08
-7.00 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.21

Adverse Events

Intranasal Insulin

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 5 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 5 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Intranasal Insulin
n=6 participants at risk
Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions (A or B). Subjects will take either 40 IU of insulin twice a day (80 IU per day) or placebo for one week for each drug, separated by a washout period (study drug free period) for 1 week.
Placebo
n=6 participants at risk
Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions (A or B). Subjects will take either 40 IU of insulin twice a day (80 IU per day) or placebo for one week for each drug, separated by a washout period (study drug free period) for 1 week
Nervous system disorders
Drowsiness
66.7%
4/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
33.3%
2/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
Nervous system disorders
Headache
50.0%
3/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
83.3%
5/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
Psychiatric disorders
Confusion
50.0%
3/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
33.3%
2/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Sneezing
50.0%
3/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
16.7%
1/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Excessive Perspiration
16.7%
1/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
33.3%
2/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
General disorders
Other
33.3%
2/6 • 1 week per intervention phase
0.00%
0/6 • 1 week per intervention phase

Additional Information

Gihyun Yoon, MD

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Phone: (203) 932-5711

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place