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Brain Imaging of Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Not Recruiting
Trial ID: NCT01507948
Purpose
The investigators are seeking people who have been exposed to a traumatic event in the past
and have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) currently. A person with PTSD may
feel significant distress when reminded of a traumatic event or feel depressed, anxious or
jumpy.
As a part of this study, participants will receive brain MRIs and office assessments before
and after psychotherapy. The investigators provide the gold-standard psychotherapy for PTSD,
"Prolonged Exposure", free of charge; additionally participants are compensated for their
time during assessment procedures. This study is exploring the brain circuitry involved in
improvement in response to psychotherapy.
Official Title
The Neurobiology of Psychotherapy: Emotional Reactivity and Regulation in PTSD
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
1. age between 18 and 60 years;
2. fMRI scanning eligibility, including no evidence of any form of metal embedded in the
body (e.g., metal wires, nuts, bolts, screws, plates, sutures), as these produce
artifacts when brain imaging;
3. not currently involved in an exposure-based psychotherapy, in order to be able to
measure and interpret the effects of PE on PTSD;
4. must comprehend English well and show non-impaired intellectual abilities to ensure
adequate comprehension of the fMRI task instructions and PE treatment;
5. no history of neurological or cardiovascular disorders, brain surgery,
electroconvulsive or radiation treatment, brain hemorrhage or tumor, stroke, seizures
or epilepsy, diabetes, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, head trauma with loss of
consciousness greater than thirty minutes;
6. no regular use of benzodiazepine, opiate, thyroid, anticonvulsant or antipsychotic
medications. Patients on stable doses of antidepressant medications will be allowed.
Patients for whom antidepressant dosing is being actively titrated will be required to
be on a stable dose for 1 month prior to inclusion in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any contraindication to being scanned in the 3T or 1.5T scanners at the Lucas Center
or CNI such as having a pacemaker or implanted device that has not been cleared for
scanning at the Lucas Center or CNI.
- Participants will be excluded from the study if there is any lifetime evidence of
psychosis, mania, hypomania, or bipolar disorders. Other axis I comorbidities will not
be a cause for exclusion.
In addition, subjects will be excluded if they have a significant CNS neurological
condition such as stroke, seizure, tumor, hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, etc.
Patients who have current substance dependence will be excluded from the study. A recent
diagnosis of substance abuse is allowable, however, as long as subjects have been abstinent
for greater than three months.
- Subjects will be excluded if they are currently in an exposure-based psychotherapy for
PTSD.
Intervention(s):
behavioral: Prolonged exposure
behavioral: Prolonged Exposure
Not Recruiting
Contact Information
Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford,
CA
94305
Kathy Peng, B.A.
650-725-9510