Effectiveness of Prazosin in Bulimic Patients Experiencing Nightmares Due to PTSD
Condition: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Bulimia Nervosa
MeSH terms: Bulimia; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Bulimia Nervosa; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This research is being done to find out how effective Prazosin is in the treatment of bulimic
      patients experiencing distressing nightmares using subjective and objective measures.
    

Detailed description: 
      To the investigators knowledge, there is no treatment trial for prazosin use in patients with
      bulimia nervosa struggling with nightmares, looking at either objective or subjective
      measures. The investigators plan to probe the effectiveness of prazosin in bulimic patients
      experiencing nightmares due to PTSD using both subjective and objective measures in order to
      improve future clinical care. The effects of prazosin on decreasing nightmares and bulimic
      symptoms on subjective scales and effects on sleep architecture using objective polysomnogram
      (PSG) measurements will help inform targeted psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic
      strategies to improve clinical care of bulimic patients struggling with distressing dreams
      secondary to PTSD. This study will be performed in two phases. Phase A will involve eight
      participants who will be tested using subjective scales (mentioned below). If Phase A data
      analysis leads to detection of a signal of efficacy 2 more participants will be recruited to
      participate in phase B of this trial using objective polysomnogram measurements. The results
      from this project will aid in establishing a fully powered clinical trial for treatment of
      nightmares in bulimic patients and improve outcomes in this high risk population.
    

Intervention name(s): Prazosin; Placebo; Prazosin; Placebo
Intervention type(s): Drug; Drug; Drug; Drug
Intervention description(s): A starting dose of Prazosin (1mg capsule) will be given at Week # 1 of this arm. Symptoms will be reassessed and medication will be adjusted by 1-2 mg increments every 7 days for 3 weeks based on clinical response and severity of night mares, to achieve maximum therapeutic benefit while monitoring adverse effects using side effects scale on weekly basis (psychiatrist will be using the scale at every visit). The end point for capping the Prazosin dose will be 6 mg daily.; Prazosin-matched placebo pill; A starting dose of Prazosin (1mg capsule) will be given at Week # 5 of this arm. Symptoms will be reassessed and medication will be adjusted by 1-2 mg increments every 7 days for 3 weeks based on clinical response and severity of night mares, to achieve maximum therapeutic benefit while monitoring adverse effects using side effects scale on weekly basis (psychiatrist will be using the scale at every visit). The end point for capping the Prazosin dose will be 6 mg daily.; Prazosin-matched placebo pill
Intervention MeSH terms: Prazosin
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Eating Disorders; Bulimia Nervosa; Nightmares; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder