Psychotherapy Effects on Reward Processing in PTSD

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · Oct 17, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a specific type of therapy called cognitive processing therapy (CPT) can help people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) feel better and experience more positive emotions. PTSD can occur after someone has gone through a very stressful or traumatic event, and many people with PTSD struggle to enjoy things in life. The researchers want to see how therapy affects the brain and helps improve these feelings of pleasure.

To take part in this study, you should be between the ages of 18 and 65, speak English, and have been experiencing PTSD symptoms for at least three months due to a traumatic event. You also need to be willing to undergo brain scans and participate in follow-up assessments. However, there are some conditions that may exclude you from participating, such as having a history of certain mental health disorders, using specific medications, or having a recent suicide attempt. If you join the study, you can expect to receive therapy and take part in assessments to help understand how this treatment works in your brain.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • English as primary language, and comprehension suitable to understand experimenter instructions.
• • Current and chronic syndromic PTSD, defined as being exposed to a DSM-5 Criterion A traumatic event, with the presence DSM-5 qualifying PTSD symptoms for at least 3 months, as assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5.
• • Able and willing to undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• • Willingness to participate in repeated assessments and as part of a delayed treatment group.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Evidence of current or prior history of psychosis or bipolar disorder as evidenced by self-report or clinical interview.
• • Active substance dependence within the past 6 months as evidenced by clinical interview.
• • Current regular psychiatric medication use (i.e. antidepressants), except for as-needed benzodiazepine or opiate medication no more than three times per week, on average, or for short-duration stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that can be skipped within 24 hours of study visits.
• • A recent (\<6 months) suicide attempt or current active ideation with intent.
• • Unremovable ferrous metal in body.
• • History of neurological disorder, stroke, seizures/convulsions (except febrile seizures in childhood), epilepsy, brain surgery, electroconvulsive or radiation treatment, brain hemorrhage or tumor, or thyroid disorder.
• • Anyone who is pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
• • Current or past year (\> 3 sessions), psychotherapy with a prominent exposure or cognitive restructuring component.
• • Previous or current (es)ketamine treatment and/ or brain stimulation/neuromodulation treatment.
• • Other ongoing treatment that is likely to confound experimental effects.
• • Previous penetrating head injury/traumatic brain injury. Mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury without penetrating injury is allowable.