Early Psychological Intervention to Prevent Cardiovascular Event-Induced PTSD (REACH Sub-study)
Stopped early · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Acute Coronary Syndrome, TIA, Stroke, Cardiac Arrest, PTSD
In brief
The overall purpose of this project is to determine the feasibility of conducting a randomized clinical trial that compares written exposure therapy with usual care among patients at risk for cardiovascular event-induced PTSD. Patients hospitalized with acute cardiovascular events, including strokes, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the trauma of the acute medical event. The goal of this study is to test the feasibility of conducting a randomized trial involving a psychological intervention to prevent the development of PTSD symptoms in patients at risk for PTSD. Patients who are admitted with these acute cardiovascular events will first be screened for PTSD risk factors while in-hospital after the index event. These risk factors will include elevated threat perceptions at the time of presentation to the hospital or early symptoms of PTSD due to the cardiovascular event. Patients at elevated risk for PTSD will then be randomized to the intervention group or usual care. Those assigned to the intervention will participate in 5 sessions of written exposure therapy in which they are asked to write about the experience of their cardiovascular event with guidance from a trained study clinician. At 1 month after discharge, all patients will be contacted by phone to complete a questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms related to the cardiovascular event. Descriptive statistics will be used to understand the feasibility of testing the written exposure therapy intervention as part of a larger, fully powered clinical trial.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT03605693
- Run by
- Columbia University
- People needed
- 10
- Starts
- 2018-08-01
- Expected to finish
- 2019-12-31
- Last updated by the study team
- 2020-09-16
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Hospitalized with acute stroke, TIA, ACS, or cardiac arrest
- Enrolled in REACH-stroke, PHS, or REACH-cardiac arrest observational cohort studies
- Elevated ASD symptoms (ASD score >=28) and/or elevated threat perceptions during index hospitalization (ED threat score >=12)
You may not qualify if…
- Unavailable for follow-up for written exposure therapy sessions
- Unable to read and write in English
Where it is running
- Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health — New York, New York, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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