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Early Intervention Following Sexual Assault

Primary Purpose

Ptsd, Alcohol Use Disorder, Sexual Assault and Rape

Status
Recruiting
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Written Exposure Therapy Integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder
Written Exposure Therapy
Sponsored by
Medical University of South Carolina
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Ptsd

Eligibility Criteria

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

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female; any race or ethnicity; age 18 to 65 years old.
  • Sexual assault that occurred within the past six weeks.
  • Subjects must be able to comprehend English.
  • A score of 3 or greater on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) screen.
  • A score of 31 or greater on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5). Subjects may also meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder, previous history of posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorder (except bipolar affective disorder, see Exclusion Criteria) or other anxiety disorders (panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder). The inclusion of subjects with affective and other anxiety disorders is essential because of the marked frequency of the co-existence of mood and other anxiety disorders among patients with AUD and PTSD (Norman et al., 2018; Zinzow et al., 2012). Subjects may meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for another substance use disorder if AUD is the primary substance of choice.
  • Must consent to complete all treatment and follow-up visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lack of any memory of the sexual assault
  • Subjects meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for a history of or current psychotic, bipolar, dissociative identify disorder, or a current eating disorder, as the study protocol may be therapeutically insufficient.
  • Subjects experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms, as evidence by a score of 10 or more on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol (CIWA). These subjects will be referred for clinical detoxification and may be re-assessed for study eligibility after medically supervised detoxification has been completed.
  • Individuals considered an immediate suicide risk, with current suicidal ideation and intent.
  • Individuals who attempted suicide in the past month. These individuals will be referred directly for treatment.
  • Individuals on psychotropic medications must be stabilized on it for at least two weeks prior to beginning the study.
  • Any other medical or psychiatric conditions that the investigators believe may compromise the individual's ability to safely participate in the study.

Sites / Locations

  • Medical University of South CarolinaRecruiting

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Experimental

Arm Label

Written Exposure Therapy

Written Exposure Therapy Integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder

Arm Description

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Change in Percent Drinking Days on The Time Line Follow-Back
The Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) will be used to assess heavy drinking in the past 30-days. This calendar-assisted interview yielded estimates in terms of the number of standard drinks consumed daily in the past 30 days used to obtain retrospective self-report of alcohol use by using a calendar and other memory prompts to stimulate recall.
Change in number of standard drinks per drinking day on The Time Line Follow-Back
The Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) will be used to assess heavy drinking in the past 30-days and use. This calendar-assisted interview yielded estimates in terms of the number of standard drinks consumed daily in the past 30 days used to obtain retrospective self-report of alcohol use by using a calendar and other memory prompts to stimulate recall.
Change in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms on The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5)
Participants will be asked to complete the 20-item Posttraumatic Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5) to measure traumatic stress symptoms corresponding with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -5 PTSD criteria. Items are rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely) with higher scores indicating greater traumatic stress symptoms. Total scores will be used.
Change in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms on The Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (CAPS-5) is the gold standard in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) assessment. It is a structured 30-minute interview that can be used to diagnosis PTSD. Items focus on symptom presence, onset and duration of symptoms, subjective distress, impact on functioning, and symptom improvement.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Change in Depression Symptoms on The Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 is a widely used self-report measure for attitudes and symptoms of depression. The PHQ-9 includes 9 self-report items. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3. The maximum total score is 27. A total score of 0-4 is considered minimal range, 5-9 is mild, 10-14 is moderate, 15-19 is moderately severe, and 20 or more is severe.
Change in Anxiety Symptoms on The Beck Anxiety Inventory
The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) assesses symptoms of anxiety via 21-item self-report. The BAI reliability discriminates anxiety-disordered from non-anxiety disordered patients and demonstrates excellent convergence with related anxiety scales. The values for each item are summed yielding an overall or total score for all 21 symptoms that can range between 0 and 63 points. A total score of 0 - 7 is interpreted as a "Minimal" level of anxiety; 8 - 15 as "Mild"; 16 - 25 as "Moderate", and; 26 - 63 as "Severe".
Change in Percent Days Using Substances on The Time Line Follow-Back
The Time Line Follow-Back will be used to assess illicit substance use in the past 30-days. This calendar-assisted interview yielded estimates in terms of self-report of substance use by using a calendar and other memory prompts to stimulate recall.

Full Information

First Posted
September 28, 2020
Last Updated
July 5, 2023
Sponsor
Medical University of South Carolina
Collaborators
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT04582695
Brief Title
Early Intervention Following Sexual Assault
Official Title
Integrated Early Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Sexual Assault
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
July 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Recruiting
Study Start Date
December 15, 2020 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
June 30, 2025 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
July 31, 2025 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Medical University of South Carolina
Collaborators
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
This study is for women who have experienced a sexual assault in the past six weeks and use alcohol. The research involves completing a five week behavioral treatment for stress and alcohol use. Participants will complete surveys during visits. Participants may also be asked to complete brief daily assessments on their smart phones.
Detailed Description
The primary objective of the proposed Stage IA/IB study is to establish feasibility of an integrated cognitive-behavioral intervention for reducing alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among women who experienced a sexual assault within the past six weeks. The intervention will be tested in an open label trial to make final modifications to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the five to six week integrated intervention with standardized repeated measures during a one-month follow-up. Next, a pilot randomized controlled trial will be conducted among 54 recent sexual assault victims to evaluate feasibility and preliminary efficacy in reducing AUD severity and PTSD symptoms. Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) will be used to assess alcohol use, craving, and affect during the five-week treatment phase.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Ptsd, Alcohol Use Disorder, Sexual Assault and Rape

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
64 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Written Exposure Therapy
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Title
Written Exposure Therapy Integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder
Arm Type
Experimental
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Written Exposure Therapy Integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder
Intervention Description
Participants will receive 5 to 6 weeks of an integrated behavioral therapy that address posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder. Sessions will be 60 minutes in length. It will include written exposure therapy, which involves writing about their experience of sexual assault for 30 minutes. In addition, they will receive 20 minutes of intervention focused on cognitive behavioral therapy for alcohol use disorder which involves learning skills to cope with alcohol cravings and behavior (e.g., challenging thoughts, problem solving).
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Written Exposure Therapy
Intervention Description
Participants will receive 5 to 6 weeks of written exposure therapy, which involves writing about their experience of sexual assault for 30 minutes.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change in Percent Drinking Days on The Time Line Follow-Back
Description
The Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) will be used to assess heavy drinking in the past 30-days. This calendar-assisted interview yielded estimates in terms of the number of standard drinks consumed daily in the past 30 days used to obtain retrospective self-report of alcohol use by using a calendar and other memory prompts to stimulate recall.
Time Frame
Participants will report on drinking during the 30 days prior to initiation of the study, and every day until study completion completion of study visits, approximately six weeks.
Title
Change in number of standard drinks per drinking day on The Time Line Follow-Back
Description
The Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) will be used to assess heavy drinking in the past 30-days and use. This calendar-assisted interview yielded estimates in terms of the number of standard drinks consumed daily in the past 30 days used to obtain retrospective self-report of alcohol use by using a calendar and other memory prompts to stimulate recall.
Time Frame
Participants will report on drinking during the 30 days prior to initiation of the study, and ever day until completion of study visits, approximately six weeks.
Title
Change in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms on The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5)
Description
Participants will be asked to complete the 20-item Posttraumatic Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5) to measure traumatic stress symptoms corresponding with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -5 PTSD criteria. Items are rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely) with higher scores indicating greater traumatic stress symptoms. Total scores will be used.
Time Frame
Baseline and after completion of study visits, approximately six weeks.
Title
Change in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms on The Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Description
The Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (CAPS-5) is the gold standard in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) assessment. It is a structured 30-minute interview that can be used to diagnosis PTSD. Items focus on symptom presence, onset and duration of symptoms, subjective distress, impact on functioning, and symptom improvement.
Time Frame
Baseline and after completion of study visits, approximately six weeks.
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change in Depression Symptoms on The Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
Description
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 is a widely used self-report measure for attitudes and symptoms of depression. The PHQ-9 includes 9 self-report items. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3. The maximum total score is 27. A total score of 0-4 is considered minimal range, 5-9 is mild, 10-14 is moderate, 15-19 is moderately severe, and 20 or more is severe.
Time Frame
Baseline and after completion of study visits, approximately six weeks.
Title
Change in Anxiety Symptoms on The Beck Anxiety Inventory
Description
The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) assesses symptoms of anxiety via 21-item self-report. The BAI reliability discriminates anxiety-disordered from non-anxiety disordered patients and demonstrates excellent convergence with related anxiety scales. The values for each item are summed yielding an overall or total score for all 21 symptoms that can range between 0 and 63 points. A total score of 0 - 7 is interpreted as a "Minimal" level of anxiety; 8 - 15 as "Mild"; 16 - 25 as "Moderate", and; 26 - 63 as "Severe".
Time Frame
Baseline and after completion of study visits, approximately six weeks.
Title
Change in Percent Days Using Substances on The Time Line Follow-Back
Description
The Time Line Follow-Back will be used to assess illicit substance use in the past 30-days. This calendar-assisted interview yielded estimates in terms of self-report of substance use by using a calendar and other memory prompts to stimulate recall.
Time Frame
Participants will report on substance use during the 30 days prior to initiation of the study, and every day until study completion completion of study visits, approximately six weeks.

10. Eligibility

Sex
Female
Gender Based
Yes
Gender Eligibility Description
Women only
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
65 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Female; any race or ethnicity; age 18 to 65 years old. Sexual assault that occurred within the past six weeks. Subjects must be able to comprehend English. A score of 3 or greater on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) screen. A score of 31 or greater on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5). Subjects may also meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder, previous history of posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorder (except bipolar affective disorder, see Exclusion Criteria) or other anxiety disorders (panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder). The inclusion of subjects with affective and other anxiety disorders is essential because of the marked frequency of the co-existence of mood and other anxiety disorders among patients with AUD and PTSD (Norman et al., 2018; Zinzow et al., 2012). Subjects may meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for another substance use disorder if AUD is the primary substance of choice. Must consent to complete all treatment and follow-up visits. Exclusion Criteria: Lack of any memory of the sexual assault Subjects meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for a history of or current psychotic, bipolar, dissociative identify disorder, or a current eating disorder, as the study protocol may be therapeutically insufficient. Subjects experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms, as evidence by a score of 10 or more on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol (CIWA). These subjects will be referred for clinical detoxification and may be re-assessed for study eligibility after medically supervised detoxification has been completed. Individuals considered an immediate suicide risk, with current suicidal ideation and intent. Individuals who attempted suicide in the past month. These individuals will be referred directly for treatment. Individuals on psychotropic medications must be stabilized on it for at least two weeks prior to beginning the study. Any other medical or psychiatric conditions that the investigators believe may compromise the individual's ability to safely participate in the study.
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Christine K Hahn, PhD
Phone
262 297 2979
Email
hahnc@musc.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Sudie Back, PhD
Phone
843-792-9383
Email
backs@musc.edu
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Medical University of South Carolina
City
Charleston
State/Province
South Carolina
ZIP/Postal Code
29425
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Christine K Hahn, PhD
Phone
262-297-2979
Email
hahnc@musc.edu

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No

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Early Intervention Following Sexual Assault

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