NCT07313280

Central Sensitization Syndromes and Post-Traumatic Stress in Women: Psychological Profile and Intervention

Psychological Profile Associated With the Complexity of Central Sensitization Syndromes, Comorbid With Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Women: Testing the Effectiveness of a Person-Centered Psychological Intervention

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Malaga · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Central Sensitivity Syndromes (CSSs) are a group of conditions that are highly prevalent, particularly among women, and often occur alongside post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This research project has two aims: Study 1) to investigate the psychological profiles of women with CSS-PTSD comorbidity; and Study 2) to design and evaluate the effectiveness of distinct interventions for each profile identified in Study 1.

Detailed description

Central Sensitivity Syndromes (CSSs) are a group of conditions, including fibromyalgia and chronic pelvic pain, associated with symptoms such as perceived pain intensity, depression, anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, and disability. These syndromes are highly prevalent, particularly among women, and often occur alongside post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition stems from a variety of traumatic experiences and manifests as a range of symptoms in individuals with different psychological profiles. However, not all individuals who experience trauma develop PTSD or CSSs, nor do all individuals with CSSs have PTSD or exhibit the same symptom patterns. Transdiagnostic psychological variables may contribute to the development and maintenance of both conditions. Commonly observed factors in both CSSs and PTSD include emotional dysregulation, anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, distress intolerance, and dissociation. These transdiagnostic vulnerability variables could be associated with each profile. Identifying these profiles may enable targeted interventions that address the underlying vulnerabilities driving CSS-PTSD comorbidity. By aligning treatment to individual vulnerability patterns, this approach aims to improve outcomes for women affected by CSS-PTSD. Four PTSD profiles will be identified: * Reactive (with prominent intrusions, avoidance, and hyperarousal). * Dysphoric (with anhedonia and negative affect). * Dissociative (with high negative and positive dissociative symptoms). * Mixed (with high levels of all PTSD symptoms). However, no studies have analysed how these transdiagnostic vulnerability variables (emotion dysregulation, anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, distress intolerance, and dissociation) are grouped and shape the different PTSD symptom profiles in populations with either PTSD or comorbid CSS. Therefore, the analysis of the association between PTSD profiles and transdiagnostic variables is exploratory. The treatments will be developed based on the variables associated with each profile identified in Study 1.

Conditions

• Posttraumatic Stress Symptom
• Central Sensitization
• Chronic Pain Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	CSS-PTSD psychological interventions	The interventions will be developed based on the techniques previously developed within cognitive behavioural approaches, which have demonstrated efficacy in treating both conditions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-10-02
• Primary completion: 2027-07-01
• Completion: 2027-12-01
• First posted: 2025-12-31
• Last updated: 2025-12-31

Locations

3 sites across 1 country: Spain