Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs. Yoga for Symptoms of PTSD
NCT Number: NCT06497400
Acronym: JOYPTSDVET
Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
Phases: NA
Conditions: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Interventions: OTHER: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu|OTHER: Hatha Yoga|OTHER: Waitlist
Sponsor: University of South Florida
Sex: MALE
Age: ADULT
Enrollment: 72
Study Design: Allocation: RANDOMIZED|Intervention Model: CROSSOVER|Masking: NONE|Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
Start Date: 2017-07-30
Completion Date: 2025-12-31
Locations: University of South Florida/Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair/department of Neurosurgery, Tampa, Florida, 33613-4706, United States

Summary:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling anxiety disorder that may occur after witnessing a traumatic event, and that evokes a combination of intrusion and avoidance symptoms, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity1.

The primary objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial is to estimate and compare the effects of the practice of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) vs. hatha yoga vs. a waitlist control condition in influencing symptoms of PTSD, related comorbidities, post-traumatic growth, and quality of life among U.S. service members/veterans with current symptoms of PTSD. In addition, objective measurements (comparisons) of stress and sleep quality will be made through the collection and evaluation of salivary alpha amylase, hair cortisol, and actigraphy, a non-invasive way to measure activity cycles.

Primary Outcome Measures: Change in PTSD Checklist - 5 (PCL-5) score, There are 20 questions that inquire about the different symptoms that correspond to 4 different types of PTSD symptoms (intrusion, avoidances, negative affect and hyperarousal). Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (hasn't bothered a person in the past 2 weeks) to 4 (bothers the person all the time). We used total score on this test., Change from pre-intervention to 2 months after completion of BJJ training
Secondary Outcome Measures: Change in Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short form (PTGI-SF), This scale assesses positive changes that may follow traumatic events. It consists of 10 items scored from "0" to "5" with 0 representing "no experience of change as a result of my crisis" and 5 representing "experiencing the change to a very great degree." The score from each item is summed to give a total score., Change from pre-intervention to 2 months after completion of BJJ training|Change in Brief Symptom Inventory -18 (BSI-18) score, This scale is the shortened form of the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R). There are 18 items that address clinically relevant psychological symptoms in adolescents and adults that cover three factors - Somatization, Depression, and Anxiety - as well as a Global Severity Index. We used the Global Severity Score which is simply the summation of all the scales. The study subject is asked to score each item from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely) with respect to the last 7 days., Change from pre-intervention to 2 months after completion of BJJ training|Change in score on the Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), The CES-D is a self-report scale that measures depressive symptomatology during the past week. There are 20 items and they are rated depending on whether the statement is worded positively or negatively. For positively worded questions, the scoring is:

* Most or all of the time (5-7 days) = 0
* Occasionally or a moderate amount of time (3-4 days) = 1
* Some or a little of the time (1-2 days) = 2
* Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day) = 3.

For negatively worded questions, the scores are opposite:

* Most or all of the time (5-7 days) = 3
* Occasionally or a moderate amount of time (3-4 days) = 2
* Some or a little of the time (1-2 days) = 1
* Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day) = 0

The scores on each item are simply added together. Total score can range from 0-60., Change from pre-intervention to 2 months after completion of BJJ training|Change in score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), This self-report scale measures quality and patterns of sleep in adults over the prior month. In the first four questions, the participants are asked to provide discrete answers about bedtime, how long it takes them to fall asleep, what time do they get up in the morning and how many hours they sleep. All remaining questions are scored on a 4-point Likert scale. Standard scoring protocol will be performed. Total score on the test can range from 0-21., Change from pre-intervention to 2 months after completion of BJJ training|Change in score on the Pain Outcomes Questionnaire - Short Form (POQ), This instrument assesses specific aspects of pain on five basic categories that include Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Mobility, Negative Affect (NA), Vitality, and Fear. Each item is scored on a scale of 0-10 with higher scores representing increase severity. Total score was used., Change from pre-intervention to 2 months after completion of BJJ training|Change in Use of Medications, This is a self-made form that asks study participants to disclose medications that they are using and if medication use changes over time and with BJJ training, Change from pre-intervention to 2 months after completion of BJJ training|Change in score on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), This instrument assesses alcohol consumption, drinking behaviors, and alcohol-related problems. There are 10 questions that are scored with a Likert scale ranging from "0" (Never) to "4" (4 or more times a week). Scores are totaled over the 10 questions. Total score ranges from 0-40, a score of 8 or more indicating potentially harmful behavior., Change from pre-intervention to 2 months after completion of BJJ training