NCT02874131

Behavioral Activation + Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD and Comorbid MDD

Behavioral Activation + Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (actual)
• Sponsor: United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study is a randomized controlled trial comparing an integrated treatment, Behavioral Activation + Cognitive Processing Therapy (BA + CPT), to CPT alone among active-duty service members with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD). Participants will complete assessor-administered and self-report measures at pre- and post-treatment assessments, as well as a 3-month follow-up. Additionally, participants will complete self-report measures of PTSD and MDD symptoms at each therapy session.

Detailed description

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the psychological condition most commonly comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD and MDD comorbidity is associated with greater symptom severity, lower levels of functioning, greater disability, and increased suicide potential relative to PTSD or MDD alone. Unfortunately, no psychological treatment intervention specifically addresses this comorbidity. Individuals with comorbid PTSD and MDD often receive evidence-based treatments for PTSD, such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT); although such treatments typically reduce both PTSD and depression symptoms, few studies have specifically examined these outcomes in individuals with PTSD and comorbid MDD. The primary goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether greater improvement in depression symptoms can be achieved by augmenting CPT with behavioral activation (BA), a standard depression treatment, for active-duty service members with PTSD and comorbid MDD. Participants will be evaluated at three assessment time-points (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up), as well as complete self-report measures of PTSD and MDD symptoms at each therapy session.

Conditions

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Behavioral Activation	Behavioral activation
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive Processing Therapy	Cognitive processing therapy

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-10-20
• Primary completion: 2022-03-18
• Completion: 2022-03-18
• First posted: 2016-08-22
• Last updated: 2024-11-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States