Whole Body Hyperthermia & Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Stopped early · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In brief

Combat-related post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become an increasingly pressing public health problem in the United States following the overseas wars of the last decade. Rates of PTSD have skyrocketed in the military and among veterans, leading to increased rates of suicide, impairment on the job and off, and behavioral changes that negatively affect not just the veteran, but also his or her family. Although effective medication and psychotherapy treatments exist for combat-related PTSD, many individuals suffering with PTSD do not adequately respond to currently available treatment options, highlighting the need to develop and test new interventions for the disorder. To address this pressing clinical issue, the investigators will conduct a pilot study to determine if Whole Body Hyperthermia (WBH) reduces symptoms in adults suffering from combat-related PTSD. The investigators plan to recruit a sample of 10 medically healthy individuals with combat-related PTSD who will receive a single session of WBH to determine if this single session improves PTSD symptoms and, if so, whether this improvement will last at least 2 weeks. To do this, the study will include basic clinical and psychiatric assessments immediately before and one and four weeks after WBH. Because sleep is so often impaired in PTSD, the investigators will measure at-home sleep patterns for a week prior to and a week following the WBH session using sleep diaries and a wristwatch actigraphy device. Given scientific evidence from our research group that WBH may improve depression, the investigators anticipate that it may also be of benefit or adults suffering from combat-related PTSD.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT02077972
Run by: University of Arizona
People needed: 3
Starts: 2014-03-01
Expected to finish: 2016-02-01
Last updated by the study team: 2015-08-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

Male or female outpatients aged 18-65.
Able to understand the nature of the study and able to provide written informed consent prior to conduct of any study procedures.
A diagnosis of combat-related PTSD based on a PTSD Checklist (PCL)-Military Version score of 50 or greater and meets a diagnosis of PTSD by DSM-V criteria.
In the investigator's opinion, has met DSM-V criteria for PTSD for at least 4 weeks prior to signing consent.
Able to communicate in English with study personnel.
Women of child-bearing potential (i.e., one who is biologically capable of becoming pregnant) must be willing to use a medically acceptable form of birth control or practice abstinence for the duration of her participation in the trial per self-report.

You may not qualify if…

Any of the following diagnoses, as identified by the psychiatric evaluation or study assessments:
A current DSM-IV-TR Axis I diagnosis of Dementia; or
Any current DSM-IV-TR Axis II diagnosis (i.e. personality disorder) that would suggest potential noncompliance with the protocol; or
A lifetime history of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, or a Bipolar Disorder Type 1; or
A diagnosis claustrophobia severe enough that it would impair ability to be in the Heckel HT3000 hyperthermia device
A current (or within 12 months prior to the Screening visit) diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa
Subject has met DSM-IV criteria for Substance Abuse in the month prior to screening visit, or non-remitted Substance Dependence in the 2 weeks prior to screening visit.
A diagnosis of an anxiety or mood disorder that is considered by the investigator to be of greater source of distress or functional impairment than the patient's PTSD diagnosis. Subjects with co-morbid anxiety and mood disorders not excluded above and considered to be of secondary importance will be permitted in the study.
Participation in concurrent formal psychotherapy during the trial, or in the 2 weeks prior to the screening visit.
Subject has a medical condition or disorder that is unstable and clinically significant, or could interfere with the accurate assessment of safety or efficacy of treatment, including:
individuals who are using prescription drugs that may impair thermoregulatory cooling, including diuretics, barbiturates, and beta-blockers, or antihistamines,
individuals with cardiovascular conditions or problems (uncontrolled hypertension, congestive heart failure, or documented evidence of coronary artery disease)
individuals with chronic conditions/diseases associated with a reduced ability initiate thermoregulatory cooling, including Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, central nervous system tumors, and diabetes with neuropathy,
hemophiliacs/individuals prone to bleeding,
individuals with a fever the day of study intervention (if so, they will be rescheduled),
individuals with hypersensitivity to heat,
individuals with recent acute joint injury (i.e. arthritis),
individuals with enclosed infections, be they dental, in joints, or in any other tissues,
Clinically significant, in the investigator's opinion, abnormal findings on screening laboratory tests or physical exam.
Presence of clinically significant suicide risk, based on the investigator's opinion, or a Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale (C-SSRS) suicidal ideation score of 4 or 5. Any suicide attempt within 3 months of the Screening visit is exclusionary.
Use of any psychotropic medications for 2 weeks (8 weeks for fluoxetine) prior to initiation of the study, with the exception of a stable dosage of benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine hypnotic medications (e.g. zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax),
Need for any non-protocol psychotropic medication once enrolled, with the exception of benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine hypnotics used at a stable dosage.
Use of any psychoactive dietary or herbal products in the 2 weeks prior to screening visit 2, or at any time during the trial.
Women who are pregnant (HCG pregnancy test at screening) or lactating, or who plan to become pregnant during the study.
Current participation in any clinical trial that might impact results of this one, which includes participation in another clinical trial for depression, as well as drug trials with agents that might affect mood or regulation of body temperature.

Where it is running

University of Arizona — Tucson, Arizona, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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