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Effects of Antagonistic Actions in Response to Trauma Exposure

NCT04617769 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 74

Last updated 2024-01-11

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The overarching objective of this study is to investigate the use of antagonistic actions as a treatment augmentation strategy for enhancing emotional processing during exposure to trauma-relevant stimuli. To accomplish this, participants (N = 84) reporting exposure to a combat, sexual assault, physical assault, or motor vehicle accident Criterion A trauma will be randomized to one of three experimental conditions: (a) Psychoeducation alone (PSYED); (b) Psychoeducation followed by repeated exposure to trauma-videoclips (PSYED + EXP); or (c) Psychoeducation followed by repeated exposure to trauma-videoclips while engaging in antagonistic actions (PSYED + EXP + AA). Antagonistic action strategies during exposure to the trauma-videoclips will include (a) adopting an open posture; (b) eating a palatable snack; (c) smiling; and (d) wishing on high levels of emotional distress.

The investigators expect that (a) those randomized to receive psychoeducation alone will show less improvement relative to the two groups that receive psychoeducation plus repeated exposure to trauma-videoclips; (b) those receiving psychoeducation in combination with repeated exposure to trauma-videoclips while performing antagonistic actions will show significantly enhanced treatment outcome at the one-month follow-up relative to the other two treatment arms; (c) participants with greater PTSD symptom severity are likely to have a poorer treatment outcome to PSYED alone; (d) changes in trauma-related threat appraisals, coping self-efficacy, and safety behaviors will each independently mediate the effects of treatment; and (e) participants displaying reductions in their emotional reactivity are more likely to have a reduction in PTSD symptoms.

Conditions

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Psychoeducation

psychoeducational materials on trauma and safety behaviors

BEHAVIORAL

Exposure

six 3-minute video exposure trials with an inter-trial interval of 2 minutes

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Texas at Austin

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-03-22
Primary Completion
2023-05-15
Completion
2023-05-15

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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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 NCT04617769 on ClinicalTrials.gov