Treatment of Older Veterans With Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Combat Disorders, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

In brief

This project represents the first randomized clinical trial of psychotherapy for older veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It will compare relaxation training (RT) to prolonged exposure therapy (PE). The project will also examine whether cognitive impairment influences psychotherapy outcome. Primary hypotheses: (1) Subjects in the PE condition will have significantly less severe PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and functional impairment than subjects in the RT condition at posttest; (2) Executive functioning will modify the response to both treatments, such that those with impaired executive functioning will demonstrate a smaller reduction in PTSD symptoms (representing less clinically significant change).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00539279

Run by

US Department of Veterans Affairs

People needed

87

Starts

2009-03-01

Expected to finish

2013-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2015-08-19

Who can join

Age: 60 and older. Sex: male. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Veterans with primary diagnosis of chronic PTSD due to combat or non-sexual military trauma; comorbid mood and anxiety disorders are expected, and will be permitted (to maximize generalizability) if PTSD symptoms are judged to be predominant based on primacy and severity of symptoms
• Male
• Age 60 or older; and
• English literacy.

You may not qualify if…

• Unmanaged psychosis or manic episodes in past year
• Substance dependence or alcohol dependence in past 3 months
• Concurrent psychotherapies targeting PTSD or exposure therapy for other anxiety symptoms [veterans who are engaged in treatment for non-PTSD symptoms (e.g., 12-step programs for substance problems) will be eligible]
• Severe cardiovascular or respiratory disease that would make it difficult to ensure regular attendance at psychotherapy sessions
• Probable dementia (based on chart diagnosis); or
• Head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness longer than 20 minutes.

Where it is running

• VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego — San Diego, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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