NCT03169712

IRT and CBT in Sexual Assault Victims With PTSD

Efficacy of Sequential Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy in Sexual Assault Victims With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a Randomized Control Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 42 (actual)
• Sponsor: Laval University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 120 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Sexual assault victims (SAV) have an elevated risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective first-line treatment for this pathology. However, although sleep disturbances are a common complaint in SAV with PTSD, trauma-focused CBT does not directly address this symptom. Posttraumatic nightmares are widespread among SAV. Trauma-related sleep disturbances are associated with significant impairment in general functioning and quality of life (mental and physical health), and contribute to the maintenance of PTSD symptoms. This study evaluates the efficacy of sequential nightmare therapy (imagery rehearsal therapy; IRT) and trauma-focused CBT, in comparison to CBT alone. Forty-two SAV suffering from PTSD and sleep difficulties were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental (IRT+CBT) or control condition (waiting period followed by CBT alone). Participants were administered a clinical interview and a series of questionnaires assessing PTSD symptoms, general functioning and quality of life.

Conditions

• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD	Trauma-focused CBT protocol elaborated by Marchand and Guay from the Trauma Studies Centre at Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital in Montreal and adapted from Foa, Hembree and Rothbaum (2007)
BEHAVIORAL	Imagery Rehearsal Therapy	IRT protocol published by Nappi and collaborators (2010)

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-12-20
• Primary completion: 2016-05-01
• Completion: 2016-08-01
• First posted: 2017-05-30
• Last updated: 2023-10-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada