Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clinical trials at UCSF
13 in progress, 7 open to eligible people
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Doxazosin for Nightmares, Sleep Disturbance, and Non-Nightmare Clinical Symptoms in PTSD
open to eligible people ages 18-75
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of doxazosin will assess doxazosin's effectiveness for PTSD nightmares, subjective sleep quality, and non-nightmare PTSD symptoms in adult men and women veterans with full and partial-syndromal PTSD.
San Francisco, California
Apnea and Insomnia Relief Study
open to eligible people ages 18 years and up
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a behavioral sleep treatment improves functioning and sleep in Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
San Francisco, California
National Adaptive Trial for PTSD Related Insomnia
open to eligible people ages 18-75
Many Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have trouble sleeping or have frequent nightmares. So far, no medication has been approved for treatment of insomnia in PTSD. The purpose of this research study is to find out if taking medications called trazodone, eszopiclone, or gabapentin can help decrease symptoms of insomnia in patients with PTSD. PTSD is a form of intense anxiety which sometimes results from severe trauma. Symptoms may include nightmares, flashbacks, troublesome memories, difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, irritability, anger, and emotional withdrawal. Insomnia is a disorder that can make it hard to fall sleep, stay asleep or cause a person to wake up too early and not be able to fall back to sleep.
San Francisco, California and other locations
Oxytocin to Treat PTSD
open to eligible people ages 18 years and up
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, debilitating condition that disproportionately affects Veterans. Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is a "gold standard" treatment for PTSD. However, approximately one-third of Veterans fail to receive an adequate dose of treatment because they prematurely drop out of PE therapy. There is also room to improve PE treatment outcomes. Consistent with the VA Office of Research and Development initiative to develop effective treatments for PTSD, the proposed randomized clinical trial will examine the ability of oxytocin (as compared with placebo) combined with PE to reduce PTSD symptom severity, improve the rate of PTSD symptom reduction, and to enhance PE treatment retention and adherence. This two-site study will leverage the investments made in the nationwide rollout off PE therapy and has the potential to significantly improve mental health care among Veterans, advance the science in this area, and identify mechanisms underlying positive PTSD treatment response. Participants may choose to complete this research study via home-based telemedicine (HBT) care (i.e. service delivery to patients in their homes using consumer friendly, video-conferencing technology). HBT sessions will be delivered via standard desk, laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone using VA approved applications. All procedures that take place via telemedicine will be performed and completed as though they were in-person/in-office
San Francisco, California and other locations
Phase IIa Trial of a Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist in the Treatment of Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
open to eligible people ages 18-69
There is large body of evidence demonstrating that Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with alterations in the stress hormone cortisol. There is also evidence that medications that block cortisol may be beneficial for treating PTSD and depression. The VA recently completed a study of a mifepristone, a medication that blocks cortisol and progesterone hormones, and found some benefit for Veterans who did not have a history of traumatic brain injury. The proposal will test a medication from a new class of cortisol blockers which have no effect on progesterone. The proposed study will test the drug CORT108297 for treatment of PTSD and will establish a safety profile that will inform the design of future studies.
San Francisco, California and other locations
Suvorexant: A Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist for Treating Sleep Disturbance in Posttraumatic Stress
open to eligible people ages 18-75
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common consequence of combat that can result in trauma-related hyperarousal and sleep disturbances. Poor sleep, one of the most common complaints in Veterans with PTSD, can be distressing, impair concentration and memory, and contribute to physical health conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. The orexin neuropeptide system underlies both sleep and stress reactivity. Suvorexant, a drug that reduces orexin, improves sleep in civilians, but has not yet been tested in Veterans with PTSD. This study will test whether suvorexant can improve sleep disturbances and PTSD symptoms in Veterans. Suvorexant may benefit Veterans by improving sleep quickly while also reducing PTSD symptoms over the long term, and with fewer side effects that were common in previous medications used to treat these conditions. Improving Veterans' sleep and PTSD symptoms could lead to better emotional and physical well-being, quality of life, relationships, and functioning.
San Francisco, California and other locations
Tech and Telephone Smoking Cessation Treatment for Young Veterans With PTSD
open to eligible people ages 18-45
This project aims to enhance the scalability of an office-based smoking cessation treatment protocol for veterans with PTSD, integrated care (IC), by adapting it to be delivered over the telephone and to incorporate mobile technology components. Mobile technology components include: (1) the Stay Quit Coach (SQC) mobile application (app), and (2) the iCO® mobile Smokerlyzer®, a smart phone-compatible carbon monoxide monitor.
San Francisco, California
A Multi-Site Open-Label Extension Study of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD
Sorry, accepting new patients by invitation only
This multi-site open-label study assesses the efficacy and safety of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy in participants who were enrolled in a parent study for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study will be conducted in up to N ≈ 100 participants. Participants will receive a flexible dose of MDMA, followed by a supplemental dose, unless contraindicated, during the Treatment Period with manualized psychotherapy in three monthly Experimental Sessions. This ~12-week Treatment Period is preceded by three Preparatory Sessions. During the Treatment Period, each Experimental Session is followed by three Integrative Sessions of non-drug psychotherapy. The Primary Outcome measure is the change in PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) from Visit 3 is assessed at Visit 16. This study will compare the effects of three manualized Experimental Sessions of psychotherapy assisted by flexible doses of MDMA. Initial doses per Experimental Session include 80 mg or 120 mg of MDMA compounded with mannitol and magnesium stearate alone (mannitol and magnesium stearate), followed 1.5 to 2 hours later by a supplemental dose (40 or 60 mg). Total amounts of MDMA to be administered per Experimental Session range from 80 mg to 180 mg.
San Francisco, California and other locations
A Novel Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment for Veterans With Moral Injury
Sorry, not currently recruiting here
The objective of this project is to test the efficacy of an individual treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from moral injury called Impact of Killing (IOK), compared to a present-centered therapy (PCT) control condition, and to determine the rehabilitative utility of IOK for Veterans with PTSD. The first aim is to test whether IOK can help improve psychosocial functioning for Veterans, as well as PTSD symptoms. The second aim is to determine whether IOK gains made by Veterans in treatment are durable, as measured by a six-month follow-up assessment. Veterans who kill in war are at increased risk for functional difficulties, PTSD, alcohol abuse, and suicide. Even after current PTSD psychotherapies, most Veterans continue to meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD, highlighting the need for expanding treatments for PTSD and functioning. IOK is a treatment that can be provided following existing PTSD treatments, filling a critical gap for Veterans with moral injury who continue to suffer from mental health symptoms and functional difficulties.
San Francisco, California and other locations
Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
This study will investigate treatments for insomnia in Veterans who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study is to compare a brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI) to a treatment that helps promote relaxation (progressive muscle relaxation training or PMRT). The investigators will examine improvements in psychosocial functioning and insomnia severity. The investigators will also examine whether treatment gains last over time and whether suicidal ideation decreases following insomnia treatment.
San Francisco, California
Facilitating Transition to Recommended PTSD Treatment
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) were widely disseminated as recommended posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments. However, post-9/11 Veterans with PTSD rarely initiate CPT or PE, especially as an initial treatment. Little research has explored the combinations and sequences of psychosocial and medication treatments that Veterans receive ("treatment sequences"). One common and understudied treatment sequence begins with stabilization treatment, which is designed to prepare Veterans for CPT or PE. There is a significant research gap in understanding how treatment sequence affects initiation of CPT or PE. The proposed research is an innovative, mixed-methods approach to assessing the impact of variability in treatment sequence, including stabilization treatment, on initiation of CPT or PE and applying this knowledge by developing a health services intervention that facilitates timely transition to CPT or PE. Research aims can improve PTSD treatment by increasing initiation of and reducing disparities in CPT/PE.
San Francisco, California
Mobile Mindfulness for Alcohol Use and PTSD Among Veterans
Sorry, not currently recruiting here
The purpose of the present study is to develop and test a mobile mindfulness intervention for Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD among OEF/OIF veterans
San Francisco, California and other locations
Studying the Modification of Attention Bias Remotely After Trauma
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
The investigators will complete an entirely remote randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing 14 sessions of attention bias modification (ABM), attention control training (ACT), placebo neutral attention training, and a final control condition with daily questions in 1,897 individuals with clinically significant Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) (defined as PCL-5 score ≥ 33). To assess effects of the training and control conditions, the investigators will administer tests of threat-related attention bias and variability, and self-report assessments of PTSS, depression, anxiety, and perceived stress at baseline, after one and two weeks of training, and at eight-week follow up. The investigators plan to screen and confirm interest from over 3,000 eligible participants over a period of 24 months to enroll and randomize 1,897 participants with the end goal of 1,232 completers (176 per condition).
San Francisco, California
Our lead scientists for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder research studies include Thomas C. Neylan, MD Anne Richards, MD, MPH Joshua Woolley, MD, PhD Sabra S Inslicht, PhD Joaquin Anguera, PhD Lizabeth A Goldstein, PhD Ellen Herbst, MD Nicholas Holder, PhD Shira Maguen, PhD.
Last updated: