Lifespan Integration for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder From an Auto Accident

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate if lifespan integration (LI) therapy reduces posttraumatic stress symptoms following a motor vehicle accident (MVA) trauma

Detailed Description
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Studies estimate a substantial proportion of MVA survivors, ranging from 9.4% to 59.9%, will develop PTSD following an accident (Blanchard & Hickling, 2004). Based on conservative estimates, past research, indicates that MVA-related PTSD may affect 2.5 to 7 million persons in the United States (Blanchard & Hickling). Furthermore, two seminal epidemiological studies (Kessler et al., 1995; Norris, 1992) that focused on causes of adult PTSD identified MVAs as the most frequent trauma resulting in PTSD. For these reasons, MVA-resultant PTSD represents a significant public health problem that needs not only to be thoroughly understood, but addressed with successful mental health treatment options (Beck & Coffey, 2007; Blanchard & Hickling, 1997, 2004; Bryant et al., 1998; Taylor et al., 1999; Taylor et al., 2001). Although there is empirical literature on the treatment of PTSD following an MVA, additional efficacious and rigorously conducted studies with statistical underpinnings are required to determine the results that can be expected from alternative models of care (Beck & Coffey; Blanchard & Hickling, 1997, 2004).

Official Title
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Lifespan Integration Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of Adults Involved in an Auto Accident

Conditions
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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Lifespan Integration Therapy
* Behavioral: Lifespan Integration- Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Involved in or witnessed a car accident at least 6 months ago. PTSD or distress or impairment in important areas of functioning following the car accident Exclusion Criteria: moderate or severe head injury current mental health treatment for the MVA-related problem severe chronic pre-injury mental health problems

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: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Lifespan Integration Therapy (LI)<br> | Behavioral: Lifespan Integration Therapy<br>* LI treatment guides the client to imaginally visit past memories, and then leads her or him forward through time to the present using a concept referred to as the time line. Beginning with the individual's memories from the traumatic experience, the time line first follows memories from the days and weeks after the trauma, then season by season to the present, and is reviewed in ongoing sessions as increasing details of the traumatic event are uncovered.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Waitlist Control- Lifespan Integration<br> | Behavioral: Lifespan Integration- Control<br>* Participants selected for the control group will be treated 4 weeks following initial contact. Treatment is the same as for the Experimental Group.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Clinicians Administered PTSD Scale | Participants will be assessed with the CAPS following the final treatment session (up to 5 treatment sessions). | following the final treatment session (average of 6 weeks from treatment start date) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personality Assessment Inventory |  | following the final treatment session (average of 6 weeks from treatment start date) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Car Accident, Auto Accident, Lifespan Integration