PTSD Clinical Trials

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise on neurophysiological indices of emotion regulation and cognitive control in individuals with clinically significant PTSD symptoms. In this proposed study, 50 adult females with clinically significant PTSD symptoms will be randomized into two groups: a 20-minute moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise group, or a 20-minute silent sitting control group. Prior to and following the exercise/sitting session, participants will complete a letter flanker task and an emotion regulation picture viewing task while their electrical brain activity is continuously recorded via electroencephalogram (EEG). Utilizing a multimodal assessment approach, cognitive control will be measured using behavioral (i.e., accuracy, reaction time) and neurophysiology (i.e., error-related negativity; ERN). Emotion regulation will be measured using self-reported and neurophysiological indices of emotional reactivity (i.e., late positive potential; LPP). Read Less

In post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intrusive, traumatic, autobiographical memories lead to anxiety symptoms. Recent work suggests a new repetitive pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) brain target that might bring relief. Since this proposed target is not well understood, the goal of the study is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify the brain regions and networks that change with rTMS stimulation at this target area in PTSD patients. Ultimately, this would lead to a personalized approach to rTMS treatment of PTSD based on brain imaging that can be used in a future clinical trial. Participants will be asked to complete psychological testing and questionnaires as well as an initial MRI and two separate TMS-fMRI sessions. Total participation time across all visits is estimated to be five to six hours. Research participation will take place at VA Palo Alto as well as at Stanford University. Read Less

Art therapy is used across the Military Health System for treatment of posttraumatic symptoms, but there is limited research on how art therapy is able to restore emotional expression and regulation in service members. This research hopes to learn about the effects of art therapy on emotional expression and regulation in service members as well as the neurological systems at work. If a participant chooses to be in this study, he or she will attend ten sessions over a period of twelve weeks. The first session will be an interview and self-assessment questionnaires to collect information on a variety of symptoms, experiences, and personality traits, and an MRI scan. During the MRI scan, participants will be asked to perform a task where they will be shown a series of neutral and negative images. The middle eight sessions will be one-hour art therapy sessions with a certified art therapist. The last session will consist of the same self-assessment questionnaires and another MRI scan. Read Less

This study aims to test whether aerobic exercise performed after fear extinction learning improves cognitive, physiological, and neural indices of extinction recall in a sample of trauma-exposed men and women with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants will complete a clinical intake visit (Day 0), followed by a three-day fear conditioning (day 1), fear extinction + activity (day 2), and fear extinction recall (day 3) protocol. Read Less

The proposed project seeks to demonstrate the engagement of post-exposure dopamine neurotransmission and downstream acute reorganization of dopaminergic resting-state neural networks as a means of increasing consolidation of extinction memories formed during analogue exposure therapy in adult women with PTSD. Participants will include 120 women aged 21-50 with a current diagnosis of PTSD related to physical or sexual assault, English speaking, and medically healthy. Participants will complete the stages of the study across 2-3 days, depending on participant need. Read Less

This epidemiologic research is being conducted as an observational prospective case series outcomes study of the use of advanced integrative specialty medical care and its effect on adult and pediatric patients with chronic or serious illnesses or mental health disorders. Read Less

The purpose of this research is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate how the brain forms associations between neutral and negative stimuli. The ultimate goal is to understand the neural systems involved in regulating negative emotional responses to fearful stimuli. Read Less

This study will examine the use brief prolonged exposure (Brief PE) therapy compared to standard clinical care to reduce posttraumatic distress among people who have had a spinal cord injury and are receiving rehabilitation in an inpatient setting. Read Less