NCT06429293

Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on PTSD-CVD Link

Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Neural, Inflammatory, & Autonomic Markers in a Sample With PTSD and Cardiovascular Risk: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This is a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of a first-line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Cognitive Processing Therapy; CPT) versus waitlist control on mechanisms of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Further, this study will test the hypothesis that CPT reduces CVD risk through its effects on inflammation and autonomic function and that these changes are driven by changes in stress-related neural activity (SNA)

Detailed description

This study is a randomized controlled trial of CPT compared to waitlist control that is testing the effects of CPT on mechanisms of the PTSD-CVD link. Enrollment began in 2023 and is projected to continue through 2026. Participants include individuals with PTSD and CVD risk recruited from the Boston area (N = 30). Treatment assignment is randomized and stratified by sex. Participants are randomized to CPT (n = 15) or waitlist control (n = 15). Potentially eligible participants complete a screening visit to confirm inclusion/exclusion criteria. Upon confirmation of eligibility, participants are scheduled for a baseline session, where they complete surveys, brain and peripheral imaging, and resting measures of autonomic function. Following the baseline visit, participants are randomized into CPT or the waitlist control group. Those randomized to CPT complete sessions via telehealth. Following a 12-week treatment period, participants attend the post-treatment visit, consisting of the same assessments administered at baseline. Participants randomized to waitlist are offered CPT upon completion of the post-treatment visit.

Conditions

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive processing therapy	The active intervention is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a gold-standard cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD. The CPT intervention consists of 12 60-minute sessions teaching skills to challenge trauma-relevant cognitions that are distorted or unhelpful. Trauma-relevant cognitions fall into five themes that are highlighted during treatment: safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy. The empirical base for CPT is strong with numerous studies demonstrating that it results in significant reduction of PTSD symptoms regardless of trauma type and that it is 89% more effective than control treatment. CPT has been successfully implemented in virtual formats with comparable efficacy levels to that of in-person CPT. CPT sessions for this study will be conducted virtually by a CPT-trained clinician

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-07-01
• Primary completion: 2026-07-01
• Completion: 2026-07-01
• First posted: 2024-05-24
• Last updated: 2025-09-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States