Key Dimensions of PTSD and ED

Completed

Conditions studied: Trauma, PTSD, Endothelial Dysfunction

In brief

This study will test whether endothelial dysfunction could be the early subclinical mechanism by which posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and whether posttraumatic fear-a key component of PTSD-or another PTSD dimension could be the target to offset that risk. The results of this study may help trauma-exposed individuals who are at risk of having CVD events.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03778307

Run by

University of California, Los Angeles

People needed

168

Starts

2019-11-20

Expected to finish

2025-06-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-24

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Aged 18+ years
• History of exposure to a psychological trauma (e.g., natural disaster, physical assault)
• Fluent in English
• Willing to and capable of providing informed consent
• Additional Inclusion Criteria for the PTSD Group
• Diagnosed with current PTSD (duration of at least 1 month) using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Edition (DSM-5) (CAPS-5) at the diagnostic interview assessment

You may not qualify if…

• History of CVD (i.e., diagnosis of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, or stroke)
• Deemed unable to comply with the protocol (either self-selected or by indicating during screening that could not complete all requested tasks)
• Current bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder
• Mild or more severe cognitive impairment [Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)3 score ≤18]
• Current moderate or severe substance use disorder
• Acute, unstable, or severe medical disorder or pregnancy
• Deemed to need immediate psychiatric intervention (e.g., active suicidality)
• Use of antipsychotic, mood stabilizer, antidepressant, or stimulant medication in the past 4 weeks
• Daily benzodiazepine use in the past 2 weeks
• Additional Exclusion Criteria for the Trauma-Exposed Matched Control Group
• Current or past diagnosis of any DSM-5 psychiatric disorder
• CAPS-5 total score ≥25

Where it is running

• UCLA — Los Angeles, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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