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Posttraumatic Stress Disorders in Police, Correctional Service Officers, and 911 Operators

Primary Purpose

Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders, Post-traumatic Stress Disorders, Adjustment Disorders

Status
Unknown status
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
Canada
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Propranolol Hydrochloride
Placebo
Sponsored by
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders focused on measuring Memory Reconsolidation, Propranolol, Police officers, 911 operators, Efficacy, Cost-effectiveness

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Understands and reads French
  • Currently or previously worked for the Quebec City Police Department, or the 911 dispatch for Quebec City, or another police department or 911 dispatch in the province of Quebec, or for the Quebec Ministry of Public Security as a correctional service officer
  • Meets criteria for a trauma-and stressor-related disorder, such as: Acute Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, Other Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th edition.
  • The trauma-and stressor-related disorder must be due to a work-related event.
  • A score of at least 4 (moderately ill) on the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity Scale.
  • Participants who are currently taking a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (antidepressants) must accept to skip their morning dose on the days that they receive the study's intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Systolic blood pressure < 100mm Hg (millimeter of mercury) at visit 0.
  • Heart rate < 55 bpm (beats per minute) at visit 0.
  • Medical conditions that contraindicate propranolol administration, as determined by the treating physician.
  • Previous diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  • Previous adverse reaction or non-compliance with a beta-blocker.
  • Medications that can have an dangerous interaction with propranolol.
  • Fertile women who are not using an adequate contraceptive methods.
  • Pregnant women.
  • Nursing women.
  • The following psychiatric conditions: past or present bipolar disorder, past or present psychotic disorder, present substance abuse or dependence, actively suicidal, past or present neurological disorder, complex posttraumatic stress disorder.

Sites / Locations

  • Douglas Mental Health University InstituteRecruiting

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

Propranolol Hydrochloride

Placebo

Arm Description

1mg / kg of propranolol hydrochloride administered as a capsule 60 minutes prior to memory reactivation

Placebo manufactured as a capsule to mimic 1mg/kg of propranolol hydrochloride administered 60 minutes prior to memory reactivation

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire with five-level scale
This questionnaire is a standardized instrument for measuring generic health status

Secondary Outcome Measures

Post-traumatic Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders - 5th edition (PCL-5)
Measure of trauma and stressor related symptoms
Hopkins Symptom Checklist - 25 (HSCL - 25).
Measure of depression and anxiety symptom severity
Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-OP)
Measure of severity of occupational stress

Full Information

First Posted
March 30, 2017
Last Updated
June 16, 2021
Sponsor
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Collaborators
Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03152175
Brief Title
Posttraumatic Stress Disorders in Police, Correctional Service Officers, and 911 Operators
Official Title
Post-traumatic Stress Disorders in Police, Correctional Service Officers, and 911 Operators: A Cost-effectiveness and Efficacy Comparison of Treatment as Usual and a Novel Intervention
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
June 2021
Overall Recruitment Status
Unknown status
Study Start Date
March 30, 2017 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
March 2022 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
March 2023 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Collaborators
Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Police officers, correctional service officers, and 911-operators are at increased risk for suffering from trauma-related disorders due to their direct and indirect exposure to life-threatening events, such as shootings, violent assaults, or car accidents, among others. Typical treatments for post-traumatic stress disorders include psychotherapy and pharmacological therapies (i.e., antidepressants). Although these interventions are effective for many sufferers, they all have limitations. Thus, the investigators propose to explore the usefulness of a new therapeutic technique, reconsolidation blockade, which involves reactivating the trauma memory while under the influence of propranolol. Objectives and hypotheses: To explore the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of reconsolidation blockade therapy as an adjunct treatment for trauma- and stressor-related disorders as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Mental Disorders-5. The investigators hypothesize that, compared to the control group, 5 weekly trauma-memory reactivations under propranolol treatment will confer a significant reduction in trauma-related symptoms and significantly more health-related economic benefits. Stress symptoms and health-related costs will be assessed at 7, 26 and 52 weeks after study inclusion. In this study, the investigators will also explore the effects of reconsolidation blockade with propranolol on various neuropsychological functions.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders, Post-traumatic Stress Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, Acute Stress Disorder
Keywords
Memory Reconsolidation, Propranolol, Police officers, 911 operators, Efficacy, Cost-effectiveness

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Model Description
Repeated measures parallel design.
Masking
ParticipantInvestigator
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
64 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Propranolol Hydrochloride
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
1mg / kg of propranolol hydrochloride administered as a capsule 60 minutes prior to memory reactivation
Arm Title
Placebo
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
Placebo manufactured as a capsule to mimic 1mg/kg of propranolol hydrochloride administered 60 minutes prior to memory reactivation
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Propranolol Hydrochloride
Other Intervention Name(s)
Teva-propranolol
Intervention Description
1mg / kg of propranolol hydrochloride, oral capsule
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo
Intervention Description
1mg / kg of matched placebo, oral capsule
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire with five-level scale
Description
This questionnaire is a standardized instrument for measuring generic health status
Time Frame
The weighted average of the questionnaire responses will be calculated over a 12 month period
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Post-traumatic Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders - 5th edition (PCL-5)
Description
Measure of trauma and stressor related symptoms
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 7, 26, and 52.
Title
Hopkins Symptom Checklist - 25 (HSCL - 25).
Description
Measure of depression and anxiety symptom severity
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 7, 26, and 52.
Title
Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-OP)
Description
Measure of severity of occupational stress
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7, 26, and 52.
Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures:
Title
Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ)
Description
Measure of psycho-social functional
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7, 26, and 52.
Title
Rey's 15-Item Memory test
Description
Measure of verbal learning and memory
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7 and 52.
Title
The Logical Memory subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale - III
Description
Measure of verbal learning and memory
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7 and 52.
Title
Trail Making Test
Description
Measure of mental flexibility
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7 and 52.
Title
Color-Word Interference Test of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System
Description
Measure of selective attention
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7 and 52.
Title
Coding subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV
Description
Measure of working memory
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7 and 52.
Title
Attention subtest of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)
Description
Measure of working memory, divided attention, and information processing speed
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7 and 52.
Title
D2 Test of attention
Description
Measure of selective and sustained attention
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7 and 52.
Title
Verbal Fluency Test
Description
Measure of verbal ability and executive control
Time Frame
Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 7 and 52.
Title
Subjective Units of Distress Scale
Description
Measure of subjective distress from exposure to an event
Time Frame
Changes from week 1 to weeks 2, 3, 4 and 5.

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
65 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Understands and reads French Currently or previously worked for the Quebec City Police Department, or the 911 dispatch for Quebec City, or another police department or 911 dispatch in the province of Quebec, or for the Quebec Ministry of Public Security as a correctional service officer Meets criteria for a trauma-and stressor-related disorder, such as: Acute Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, Other Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th edition. The trauma-and stressor-related disorder must be due to a work-related event. A score of at least 4 (moderately ill) on the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity Scale. Participants who are currently taking a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (antidepressants) must accept to skip their morning dose on the days that they receive the study's intervention. Exclusion Criteria: Systolic blood pressure < 100mm Hg (millimeter of mercury) at visit 0. Heart rate < 55 bpm (beats per minute) at visit 0. Medical conditions that contraindicate propranolol administration, as determined by the treating physician. Previous diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous adverse reaction or non-compliance with a beta-blocker. Medications that can have an dangerous interaction with propranolol. Fertile women who are not using an adequate contraceptive methods. Pregnant women. Nursing women. The following psychiatric conditions: past or present bipolar disorder, past or present psychotic disorder, present substance abuse or dependence, actively suicidal, past or present neurological disorder, complex posttraumatic stress disorder.
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Alain Brunet, PhD.
Phone
514-761-6131
Ext
4348
Email
alain.brunet@mcgill.ca
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Daniel Saumier, PhD.
Phone
514-761-6131
Ext
4349
Email
irsst.brunet@gmail.com
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Alain Brunet, PhD.
Organizational Affiliation
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
City
Montreal
State/Province
Quebec
ZIP/Postal Code
H4H1R3
Country
Canada
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Daniel Saumier
Phone
514-761-6131
Ext
4349
Email
irsst.brunet@gmail.com
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Alain Brunet, PhD.
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Isabelle Rouleau, PhD.
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Helen-Maria Vasiliadis, PhD.
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Alexandra Bisson-Desrochers, C. Phil.
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Daniel Saumier, PhD.
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Jacques Tremblay, MD., MSc.
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Maxime Guérin

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
Undecided

Learn more about this trial

Posttraumatic Stress Disorders in Police, Correctional Service Officers, and 911 Operators

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