FLOAT for Healthcare PTSS

Recruiting now · Early Phase 1

Conditions studied: Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Burnout, Burnout, Healthcare Workers, First Responders, PTSD, Healthcare Workforce Well-Being, Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms

In brief

This early-stage pilot trial aims to examine the feasibility, tolerability, and safety of Floatation-REST, or Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy via floatation in frontline healthcare workers, first responders, and emergency medical personnel who experience post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07710417

Run by

Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc.

People needed

15

Starts

2026-06-10

Expected to finish

2026-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 64. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Work-related post-traumatic stress dysfunction as measured by either of the following inclusion pathways:
• (A) PTSS Pathway: PCL-5 greater than or equal to 20, OR meets criteria for full or partial PTSD on the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview 7 (DSM-V) (Criteria A + at least 2 B-E Criteria) OR (B) Functionally Anchored Pathway: evidence of work-related trauma exposure on the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview 7 (DSM-V) (Criterion A) or Life Events Checklist-5, and at least one of the following: Moral Injury and Distress Scale greater than or equal to 27, Sheehan Disability Scale greater than or equal to 5 on at least 1 of the 3 subscales, high or very high level of perceived stress (measured by PhenX Perceived Stress Scale greater than or equal to 16).
• First responder or other emergency medical personnel
• Ability to read, speak and understand English
• Capable of providing consent

You may not qualify if…

• History of neurological conditions
• Skin conditions or open wounds
• DSM-5 diagnosis of psychotic spectrum disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, severe substance use disorder, or eating disorder
• Inability to lay comfortably in a shallow pool of water
• Failure to adhere to "pre-float checklist"
• Breathalyzer test positive for alcohol or a drug-positive urine test
• Unwillingness to provide consent or complete major aspects of protocol
• MRI contraindications
• Unstable medical diagnoses
• Pregnancy
• Evidence of inability to comply with study procedures based on experimenter judgement
• Change in the dose or prescription of a medication within the 6 weeks before enrolling in the study that could affect brain functioning (e.g., anxiolytics, antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or mood stabilizers)

Where it is running

• Laureate Institute for Brain Research — Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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