Identifying Biomarkers That Distinguish PTSD and mTBI Using Advanced Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Completed

Conditions studied: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Brain Injuries

In brief

The purpose of this study is to develop a new test to help diagnose mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in soldiers. Chemicals in the brain will be measured using a Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) scan. In the study, the investigators will compare the information they obtain from scans of participants with mTBI, PTSD or both, to scans from healthy volunteers to understand the differences between these groups. If the results can tell the difference between participants with mTBI and PTSD, the investigators should be able to help safely diagnose patients in the future.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02927288

Run by

Brigham and Women's Hospital

People needed

100

Starts

2012-01-01

Expected to finish

2017-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2018-01-18

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Between the ages of 18 and 55
• Male and female
• High School diploma or General Educational Development (GED) equivalent

You may not qualify if…

• History of brain tumor, epilepsy, dementia, and other neurological disorders
• History of psychotic, bipolar, or other mental disorder aside from PTSD
• Substance abuse and/or use within the past month of skeletal muscle relaxants, narcotics, anticonvulsants, neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, cerebral stimulants, sedatives, or hypnotics during the month prior to testing, or a "dirty" urine specimen (i.e., containing amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, opiates, benzodiazepines, methaqualone, propoxyphene, phencyclidine, methadone, or cannabinoids)
• Alcohol use 24 hours prior to testing. Subjects will be asked to abstain 24 hours in advance as alcohol can be detected in the MRS spectrum as a multiplet at 1.5 ppm.
• Inability to give informed consent for participation
• Any contraindications for MR imaging and spectroscopy
• electrical implants such as cardiac pacemakers or perfusion pumps
• ferromagnetic implants such as aneurysm clips, surgical clips, prostheses, artificial hearts, valves with steel parts, metal fragments, shrapnel, tattoos near the eye, or steel implants
• ferromagnetic objects such as jewelry or metal clips in clothing
• any greater than normal potential for cardiac arrest
• pregnancy (female of childbearing age and are still having your menstrual periods will be asked to give a urine sample for a pregnancy test that will be administered by the technologist).

Where it is running

• Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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