NCT03932773

Multi-site Confirmatory Efficacy Treatment Trial of Combat-related PTSD

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 330 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The University of Texas at Dallas · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the benefits of combining repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) coupled with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in treating combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The study will also examine change in depression, psychosocial functioning, and neurophysiological (i.e., electroencephalography and magnetic resonance images) measures.

Detailed description

Using three treatment arms, the study will examine Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptom reduction when (1) 1 Hz (hertz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) is administered prior to each of 12 Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) sessions compared to when (2) sham rTMS is administered to the rDLPFC is administered prior to each of 12 CPT sessions and to when (3) 1 Hz rTMS is delivered to rDLPFC alone over 12 sessions. Veterans with combat-related PTSD will be randomly assigned to one of the three treatment arms. Primary outcome PTSD symptom severity measures, secondary neuropsychological, electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcome measures, and prescreening assessments for study contraindicators will be collected prior to being assigned to a treatment arm (i.e., baseline). Primary outcome PTSD symptom severity measures and secondary neuropsychological outcome measures will be collected twice within the span of the treatment sessions (i.e., sessions 5 and 9) and at three times following treatment competition (i.e., 1-month, 6-months, and 12-months). EEG also will be collected at the 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month assessments, and MRI will be collected at the 6-month and 12-month assessments.

Conditions

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Active rTMS	A Magstim Rapid2 Stimulator repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) device will be used to deliver 1 hertz (Hz) stimulation to right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) at 110% of a participant's rTMS motor threshold. The device passes electric current through a coil generating an alternating magnetic field. When positioned over the skull, the changing magnetic field causes electromagnetic inducted current flow in brain regions subjacent to the coil. Magnetic pulses (1.5-2.0 Tesla) lasting 100-300 microseconds at 1 Hz will be used. Motor threshold will be defined by the TMS intensity to right motor region required to induce visually perceptible movement of the contralateral abductor pollicus brevis 50 percent of the time.
DEVICE	Sham rTMS	A Magstim Rapid2 Stimulator repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) device will be paired with sham coil. The sham coil will induce electrical current flow in the tissue above the skull but will not induce current flow in brain tissue. The sham coil will be placed over the right prefrontal scalp region to target current flow in rDLPFC. Magnetic pulses lasting for 100-300 microseconds at 1 Hz will be used. For consistency across the rTMS conditions, motor threshold in the sham condition also will be determined by positioning the active rTMS coil over the right motor region and identifying the stimulation intensity required to induce visually perceptible movement of the contralateral abductor pollicus brevis 50 percent of the time.
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive Processing Therapy	Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an evidenced based, trauma-focused treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CPT is a recommended form of treatment in the Veterans Administration - Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD. The CPT manual delineates the agenda for each of 12 sessions (60 minutes per session): 1) Introduction to CPT and Patient Education regarding PTSD, 2) Meaning of the Trauma, 3) Identification of Thoughts and Feelings related to the Trauma, 4) Remembering the Trauma, 5) Identification of Stuck points, 6) Challenging Questions about the Trauma, 7) Dysfunctional/Maladaptive Thinking patterns related to the Trauma, 8) Safety Issues, 9) Trust Issues, 10) Power and Control Issues, 11) Self-Esteem Issues, and 12) Intimacy Issues.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-05-01
• Primary completion: 2026-07-31
• Completion: 2026-07-31
• First posted: 2019-05-01
• Last updated: 2025-08-22

Locations

3 sites across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study