Brain Response to Treatment for Pediatric PTSD

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will examine how brain activation changes as a result of behavioral treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescents. The investigators will conduct functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans before and after the widely-used trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy to better understand how the brain recovers from illness. This study will provide much needed information about brain abnormalities in abused youth, and could lead to improvements in behavioral treatments for patients who do not respond to current treatments.

Detailed Description
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This is a neuroimaging study of changes in brain function associated with trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)for abused youth suffering from PTSD. By scanning patients before and after treatment, the investigators will identify mediators (potential mechanisms) of recovery from PTSD. Childhood maltreatment is unfortunately common, and can lead to significant problems in school, emotional difficulties, and physical ailments. Frequently, abused children develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as re-experiencing aspects of the trauma, avoiding trauma-related situations, and suffering from chronic hyperarousal. PTSD can inflict significant stress-related damage on the brain at any age, but may be particularly damaging during developmental periods such as adolescence. Therefore, effective treatments for PTSD in youth are critical, and this depends in part on our ability to understand the neural abnormalities underlying pediatric PTSD, and the brain changes accompanying recovery from PTSD. TF-CBT is the gold-standard treatment for this population however, some patients continue to experience symptoms of PTSD following treatment. Examining neural changes associated with successful treatment may suggest adjunctive or additional steps to enhance recovery in non-responders or partly responsive patients. The investigators will assess brain activation in response to an emotion-related task in 40 adolescents with PTSD before and after a 12 week TF-CBT treatment, conducted at Stanford University. The fidelity of TF-CBT treatment will be assured through ongoing consultation between clinicians and treatment co-creator Judith Cohen, M.D. Neuroimaging analyses will assess patterns of activation associated with response to TF-CBT. Also, the investigators will scan 30 age-matched healthy controls recruited from the same community, to compare with patients to identify abnormalities in brain structure and function in the PTSD group. Controls will be scanned before and after a 12-week interval as well, to allow analyses of test/retest reliability of fMRI measures in this age group.

Official Title
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Biomarkers of Clinical Response to Cognitive Treatment of PTSD in Youth

Conditions
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Emotions, Memory Deficits, Post-traumatic Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: ages 12-17, history of physical or sexual abuse, witnessing violence, or bullying; and English speaking Exclusion Criteria: receiving other psychotherapy currently, taking medications for a psychiatric disorder currently, history of head injury with loss of consciousness longer than 5 minutes; major medical condition such as epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease, or loss of hearing or vision, developmental disorder such as fragile X, autism, or Down's Syndrome, MRI contraindications including metal in the body from an injury or surgery, non-removeable piercings, or braces, Intelligence Quotient (IQ) < 70; schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, current substance abuse.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 9 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Psychotherapy<br>Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Behavioral: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy<br>* the 'gold-standard' behavioral treatment for children/adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder<br>* Other names: TF-CBT;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| functional magnetic resonance imaging (brain activation) | We will use functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure changes in brain activation after 4 months of psychotherapy | change in brain activation after 4 months of treatment (baseline and 4 months) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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fMRI, neuroimaging, PTSD, adolescent, trauma, brain