NCT00183508

Behavioral Treatments for Acute Stress Disorder In Firefighters

Developing Group Treatments for Acute Stress Disorder

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 169 (actual)
• Sponsor: Boston University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study will develop a treatment for firefighters experiencing symptoms of acute stress disorder (ASD). Effective treatments may reduce immediate symptoms and prevent the development of more chronic conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Detailed description

Exposure to traumatic events has reached unprecedented proportions in American society, and the rates of PTSD have risen significantly, particularly among populations with repetitive exposure to critical incidents. The continued threat of attacks against Americans warrants development of preventive interventions to reduce the occurrence of PTSD and its precursor, ASD. This study will determine the effectiveness of a preventive treatment in urban firefighters who have experienced a traumatic event. Firefighters will undergo an initial assessment that will include an interview and self-report questionnaires to measure depression, anxiety, coping skills, social support, physical health, and work functioning. Following the occurrence of a traumatic work-related event, firefighters will be reassessed. The post-incident assessment will consist of self-report questionnaires that assess ASD symptoms. Participants who display ASD symptoms will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the first group will learn cognitive behavioral strategies for symptom reduction, and the second group will receive psychoeducation regarding common reactions to traumatic events. Participants' treatment will last for 12 weeks. Participants will have follow-up assessments 1 and 3 months after the interventional part of the study. Assessments will include clinical scales and interviews.

Conditions

• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive behavioral therapy	Participants will learn cognitive behavioral strategies for symptom reduction
BEHAVIORAL	Psychoeducation	Participants will receive psychoeducation regarding common reactions to traumatic events

Timeline

• Primary completion: 2005-12-01
• Completion: 2009-05-01
• First posted: 2005-09-16
• Last updated: 2015-12-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States