Healing Touch & Guided Imagery for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This is a randomized controlled 2 year trial at Camp Pendleton, CA to determine whether a complementary medicine intervention (Healing Touch with Guided Imagery, HT+GI) reduces Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms as compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in returning combat-exposed active duty military with significant PTSD symptoms. Secondary aims will evaluate the effect of HT and GI on measures of depression, hostility, and general health status in this population.

Detailed Description
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The study enrolled 123 active duty subjects from the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Southern California with at least one or more symptoms of PTSD .

Official Title
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Healing Touch and Guided Imagery Intervention in Post-deployment Military Personnel With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Conditions
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Healing Touch & Guided Imagery


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Female or male subjects 18 years or older Post-deployment from a combat zone Identified by post-deployment health re-assessment to have PTSD symptoms Referred by Camp Pendleton Subjects who are willing to sign a consent Subjects who are willing to participate for the length of the study Exclusions: Female subjects who are now pregnant or nursing Subjects who are receiving healing touch or using guided imagery from other sources Subjects who have any major health condition that may interfere with participating in this study

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Group A<br>This group receives 6 Healing Touch & Guided Imagery treatments in addition to standard medical care. | Other: Healing Touch & Guided Imagery<br>* Healing Touch (HT) is an energy based approach to health and healing. It uses light touch to influence the energy field that surrounds the body, and the energy centers which control the flow of energy to the physical body. HT complements traditional health care and is used together with other approaches to health and healing. Guided Imagery (GI) is a form of focused relaxation used to create harmony between the mind and body. Positive mental imagery can promote relaxation, reduce stress and improve mood as well as alter heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.<br>|
| No Intervention: Group B<br>This group receives standard medical care but NO Healing Touch and Guided Imagery. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 17-item PTSD Checklist (Military)is used to determine the effect of the intervention |  | After 6 treatments of healing touch and guided imagery | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Depression (Beck Depression Inventory) |  | After 6 treatments of healing touch and guided imagery | 
| Quality of Life (SF36) |  | After 6 treatments of healing touch and guided imagery | 
| Hostility (Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory) |  | After 6 treatments of healing touch and guided | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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PTSD, Healing Touch, Guided Imagery, Military, Complementary Medicine