Clinical trial NCT01524133: PROlonGed ExpoSure Sertraline
Official title: Randomized Trial of Sertraline, Prolonged Exposure, and Their Combination for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF).
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Keywords: combat-related PTSD
Posttraumatic stress disorder
prolonged exposure therapy
sertraline
military
veterans
VA hospital
mental illness
Lead sponsor: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Sponsor class: FED
Collaborators: name: U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command
First posted: 2012-02-01
Enrollment: 223
Sex: ALL
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The current research study aims to compare the effectiveness of two proven treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Prolonged Exposure (PE), sertraline, and their combination. In addition, the investigators are examining predictors of response to these two treatments and how PTSD symptoms, thoughts, and biological factors may be changed by such treatments. Biological mechanisms of change are also examined including emotion processing and regulation in fMRI, HPA axis function, and genetics and genomics. In addition, the investigators will examine acceptability of each treatment and reasons for ending treatment.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient is an Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) combat veteran with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or significant PTSD symptoms (Clinician Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale \[CAPS\] \>= 50) of at least 3 months duration

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current, imminent risk of suicide (as indicated on C-SSRS)
* Active psychosis
* Alcohol or substance dependence in the past 8 weeks
* Unable to attend regular appointments
* Prior intolerance or failure of adequate trial of prolonged exposure (PE) or sertraline (SERT) (defined as at least 2 months of SERT at least 100mg/day)
* Medical illness likely to result in hospitalization or for which treatments are contraindicated (based on lab results, medical history and physical exam)
* Serious cognitive impairment (as evidenced by cognitive impairment felt likely to interfere with the ability to participate meaningfully in the study)
* Concurrent antidepressants or antipsychotics
* Pregnant females

Primary outcomes:
measure: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms as Measured by the Clinician Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (CAPS)
timeFrame: 24 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Patient Health Questionnaire-15
timeFrame: 24 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: San Diego
country: United States
facility: VA San Diego Healthcare System
state: California
city: Savannah
country: United States
facility: Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center/Savannah Primary Care Clinic
state: Georgia
city: Boston
country: United States
facility: Massachusetts General Hospital
state: Massachusetts
city: Ann Arbor
country: United States
facility: Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System
state: Michigan
Study officials:
affiliation: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
name: Sheila Rauch, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Allard CB, Norman SB, Straus E, Kim HM, Stein MB, Simon NM, Rauch SAM; PROGrESS Study Team. Reductions in guilt cognitions following prolonged exposure and/or sertraline predict subsequent improvements in PTSD and depression. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2021 Dec;73:101666. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2021.101666. Epub 2021 Jun 1.
citation: Rauch SAM, Kim HM, Lederman S, Sullivan G, Acierno R, Tuerk PW, Simon NM, Venners MR, Norman SB, Allard CB, Porter KE, Martis B, Bui E, Baker AW; PROGrESS Team. Predictors of Response to Prolonged Exposure, Sertraline, and Their Combination for the Treatment of Military PTSD. J Clin Psychiatry. 2021 Jun 15;82(4):20m13752. doi: 10.4088/JCP.20m13752.
citation: Sheynin J, Duval ER, King AP, Angstadt M, Phan KL, Simon NM, Rauch SAM, Liberzon I. Associations between resting-state functional connectivity and treatment response in a randomized clinical trial for posttraumatic stress disorder. Depress Anxiety. 2020 Oct;37(10):1037-1046. doi: 10.1002/da.23075. Epub 2020 Jul 15.
citation: Rauch SAM, King A, Kim HM, Powell C, Rajaram N, Venners M, Simon NM, Hamner M, Liberzon I. Cortisol awakening response in PTSD treatment: Predictor or mechanism of change. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020 Aug;118:104714. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104714. Epub 2020 May 15.
citation: Duval ER, Sheynin J, King AP, Phan KL, Simon NM, Martis B, Porter KE, Norman SB, Liberzon I, Rauch SAM. Neural function during emotion processing and modulation associated with treatment response in a randomized clinical trial for posttraumatic stress disorder. Depress Anxiety. 2020 Jul;37(7):670-681. doi: 10.1002/da.23022. Epub 2020 Apr 19.
citation: Joshi SA, Duval ER, Sheynin J, King AP, Phan KL, Martis B, Porter KE, Liberzon I, Rauch SAM. Neural correlates of emotional reactivity and regulation associated with treatment response in a randomized clinical trial for posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2020 May 30;299:111062. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2020.111062. Epub 2020 Mar 5.
citation: Goetter EM, Hoeppner SS, Khan AJ, Charney ME, Wieman S, Venners MR, Avallone KM, Rauch SAM, Simon NM. Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Major Depression in U.S. Veterans: The Role of Deployment Cycle Adversity and Social Support. J Trauma Stress. 2020 Jun;33(3):276-284. doi: 10.1002/jts.22496. Epub 2020 Mar 26.
citation: Rauch SAM, Kim HM, Powell C, Tuerk PW, Simon NM, Acierno R, Allard CB, Norman SB, Venners MR, Rothbaum BO, Stein MB, Porter K, Martis B, King AP, Liberzon I, Phan KL, Hoge CW. Efficacy of Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Sertraline Hydrochloride, and Their Combination Among Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Feb 1;76(2):117-126. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3412.
citation: Rauch SAM, Simon NM, Kim HM, Acierno R, King AP, Norman SB, Venners MR, Porter K, Phan KL, Tuerk PW, Allard C, Liberzon I, Rothbaum BO, Martis B, Stein MB, Hoge CW. Integrating biological treatment mechanisms into randomized clinical trials: Design of PROGrESS (PROlonGed ExpoSure and Sertraline Trial). Contemp Clin Trials. 2018 Jan;64:128-138. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2017.10.013. Epub 2017 Oct 29.