Feasibility Trial of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) During...
Post Traumatic Stress DisorderPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects up to 35% of pregnant trauma survivors. Moreover, prenatal PTSD rates are up to 4 times higher among communities of color compared to white populations. PTSD during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of adverse perinatal and infant health outcomes and may even contribute to racial disparities in adverse perinatal outcomes. Although front-line treatments exist for PTSD, treatment research that specifically focus on pregnancy are extremely limited. Clinical studies examining the safety, acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of treatments for PTSD during pregnancy are virtually non-existent. Thus, pregnant individuals with PTSD, particularly within low-income communities of color, are a vulnerable and underserved group in need of effective treatment approaches for their distress. Investigators propose to conduct a feasibility and acceptability study of a PTSD treatment, Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), in a sample of pregnant individuals with PTSD in which low-income people of color are highly represented. Aim 1: The purpose of Aim 1 will be to examine feasibility. Investigators will evaluate the recruitment and assessment procedures. Aim 2: The purpose of Aim 2 will be to examine acceptability. Investigators will evaluate participant feedback of the NET intervention. Aim 3: The purpose of Aim 3 will be to examine the proportion of participants demonstrating clinically meaningful reduction in PTSD and perinatal depression symptoms from pre- to post-treatment. Investigators will aim to enroll up to 30 participants; participation will last up to ten months. Data sources will include questionnaires, electronic medical records, and qualitative feedback interviews. With this study, investigators aim to fill a critical gap in knowledge of how to safely and effectively treat PTSD among a vulnerable and underserved population (i.e., perinatal individuals of color).
Online Mental Health Program for Female College Students
Post Traumatic Stress DisorderLate adolescence and early adulthood are the most exposed to trauma. College students exposed to trauma may experience depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulties adapting to college life. Depression symptoms are the most common reactions that people experience after traumatic experiences. Depression also harms college students reactions that people experience after traumatic experiences. It is difficult for people who are depressed to meet their social function. Trauma also has adverse physical effects, including dysfunction of the hypothalamus and adrenal axis, lowering blood cortisol levels. As a result, the body's immune system is disturbed, leaving people more exposed to diseases and experiencing more pain and fatigue. In particular, women are more vulnerable to PTSD than men. Women with post-traumatic stress and depression are also more likely to be exposed to several diseases. Moreover, when traumatized female college students experience life stress, it worsens their mental health and interferes with their studies. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective content composition method for trauma intervention. CBT should be improved by helping to reduce PTSS and depression and managing various aspects of life, such as nutrition, activity, and rest. One major advantage of online programs is that they do not face any time or space constraints, and they are also less expensive than face-to-face programs. More importantly, online programs can reduce psychological barriers to participation. This is especially important for women who are more likely to feel shame and stigma about interpersonal traumas, such as those arising from relationships and sexual trauma, which are obstacles to their access to face-to-face programs. College students can easily access online programs because of their familiarity with the Internet, so the programs can be immediately available in response to crises without requiring them to expose personal information to unfamiliar therapists. In this study, the interventions program was based on the Roy Adaptation Model to address post-traumatic physical and mental health problems among female college students in Korea. Hypothesis The post-traumatic stress scores, depressive symptom scores of participants who access the program will decrease more than those who do not. The functional health scores, college adaptation scores of participants who access the program will increase more than those who do not.
Enhancing Transdiagnostic Mechanisms of Cognitive Dyscontrol
Anxiety DisordersDepression1 moreThe proposed project aims to test the cognitive and neural effects of a cognitive training in a sample of individuals seeking treatment for anxiety, depression, or traumatic stress symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to a high dose, low dose, or assessment only condition. Participants will be compared on cognitive performance and brain response during cognitive tasks from baseline to post-treatment.
Increasing Activity for Veterans With PTSD
Stress DisordersPost-TraumaticThe proposed work will be a key step forward in fulfilling the mission of VA RR&D to restore function and enable social reintegration for Veterans. Development of an intervention to increase physical activity may improve physical functioning for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), thus addressing an important gap in existing care. If demonstrated to be efficacious in a future randomized trial, this intervention could be implemented throughout VHA to improve quality of life and enable a full recovery for many Veterans with PTSD. Results from the proposed work may also advance our understanding of how to optimally incorporate mobile health technology (mHealth) with more traditional types of patient contacts, such as in-person visits and telephone calls. Effective use of mHealth may offer greater flexibility for VHA clinics looking to implement new programs. Incorporation of mHealth may also increase access to clinical services for Veterans who reside far from VHA facilities.
Life Beyond Trauma: 1-on-1 e-Health Program for Parents of Neurodiverse Children
Post Traumatic Stress InjuryPost Traumatic Stress DisorderParents of neurodiverse children are more likely to experience traumatic events related to the care of their child/children. This increases the probability to experience Posttraumatic Stress Injury (PTSI). However, interventions addressing PTSI symptoms in parents are rare. In this research project the study investigators will test the feasibility and efficacy of e-NET, a distance-delivered, exposure-based intervention for PTSI adapted to the needs of parents of neurodiverse children. E-NET is an adapted version of the Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), an evidence-based intervention approach for individuals with PTSI who have experienced repeated or continuous trauma. The intervention will be conducted via videoconferencing with trained paraprofessionals. During the intervention a narrative of both positive and negative (traumatic) experiences in the parents' life will be created. The intervention contains approx. 12 one-on-one sessions with a trained paraprofessional via videoconferencing. The study design is a waitlist control group design. Approx. 20 participants will receive e-NET directly after the baseline survey and 20 participants will receive e-NET approx. 3 months after the baseline survey. To test the efficacy of the intervention, participants will fill out surveys about PTSI and other mental health symptoms before, directly after, and 2 and 6 months after the intervention. Adverse events and distress will be assessed in every session. As part of the baseline, participants will complete the survey "Surviving and Thriving in Parenting Neurodiverse Children" to determine their eligibility for the intervention. Main eligibility criterion is the presence of PTSI symptoms.
Strategic Memory and Reasoning Training for Cognitive Problems
Traumatic Brain InjuryPosttraumatic Stress DisorderThe focus of this study is to test a treatment program (Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training; SMART) that was developed to address specific brain functions found to be crucial for the recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI). New research has shown that when these very specific brain functions are targeted, such as ability to focus on a task while ignoring irrelevant information, brain changes are more significant. SMART emphasizes top-down processing by targeting focused attention, assimilation of information, and mental flexibility and innovation, all higher-order cognitive functions driven by the frontal lobes. Evidence from other top-down cognitive training programs demonstrates their effectiveness in improving cognitive and daily functioning in individuals reporting a TBI. In addition to improving frontal lobe capacity, SMART has also been shown to increase brain blood flow critical for complex thinking and strengthen white matter integrity. The effectiveness of SMART has been extensively tested with a variety of populations, including healthy adults and adolescents, adolescents with brain injuries, healthy seniors and those at risk for Alzheimers, and veterans and civilians with lingering impairment following TBIs. This will be the first study to test its effectiveness with individuals with mild TBI (MTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The SMART program has previously been tested with patients with TBI using an 18-hour training format. When compared to the Brain Health Workshop (BHW), an education-based active learning module, participants in the SMART group (n = 31) demonstrated improvements in gist reasoning, executive function, and memory, generalization of improvement to daily functioning activities and continuation of these gains 6 months posttraining. The training consisted of 15 hours of training conducted over 10 group sessions in the first 5 weeks and a final 3 hours of training at spaced intervals over the next 3 weeks. SMART training has not been tested with patients with PTSD-related neuropsychological impairments. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the efficacy of a shortened training program (9 hours) in improving neurocognitive function in patients with mTBI and/or PTSD.
RESILIENT - An Online Multidimensional Treatment to Promote Resilience After a Disaster: Randomized...
Post Traumatic Stress DisorderInsomnia1 moreBackground. The wildfires on May 1, 2016 in Fort McMurray, Alberta (Canada), destroyed approximately 2,400 homes and buildings and led to massive displacement of approximately 88,000 people. Many individuals faced direct or potential threat to their life or health, or significant losses, and many months later, families were still living through ongoing adversity and uncertainty as they adapted to new or temporary homes, schools and workplaces. Alberta Health Services estimated in August 2016 that mental health staff in the city had received 20,000 referrals since May, compared to 1,200 referrals each year. Objectives. The overarching aim of this project is to understand the needs of the Fort McMurray population in terms of mental health and to widely disseminate evidence-based tools to promote resilience. More specifically, we will assess the efficacy of an online self-help intervention targeting post-traumatic resilience on specific symptoms (post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], insomnia, depression). Method. 1,510 phone surveys have been conducted in May-July 2017 to assess the prevalence of PTSD, insomnia and depression in the evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires (T0). After the survey, 697 participants expressed interest to participate in the longitudinal arm of the study, which will include four in-depth assessments with online questionnaires (T1 to T4) and a diagnostic interview (T1 only). A period of six months will separate all four times of assessment. Participants with post-traumatic stress symptoms (expected n = 150) will be randomised either to the treatment condition (n = 75) or to a waitlist control condition (n = 75) after completion of T2. Data Analyses. Primary outcomes will be post-traumatic, depressive and insomnia symptom severity, measured with validated self-report questionnaires. Secondary outcomes will include cognitive, behavioural and social indicators, as well as general mental health and post-traumatic growth. Several probable moderators of treatment will be examined, including sociodemographic characteristics, level of exposure, and continuing stressors. Foreseen Impacts. If found effective in reducing symptoms, the results of this study have the potential to impact positively the Fort McMurray community. Indeed, a direct and concrete deliverable of this research project will be to provide an extended (at least two years) and free access to the online intervention specifically tailored to this population's needs.
Cognitive Processing Therapy for Syrian Patients With PTSD
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Background: Studies among Syrian refugees showed high prevalence rates of PTSD. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in treating patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using a clinical trial. Methods: Data will be obtained through interviewing patients seeking for PTSD treatment. Patients will be interviewed by a clinician and asked to complete the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 3-, and 12-months posttreatment. The primary outcomes will be the scores of CAPS, BDI-II, and BAI. Results: we predict that CPT will result in greater reductions in CAPS scores.
An Internet-delivered Cognitive-behavioral Intervention Provided Soon After Trauma: a RCT
Post Traumatic Stress DisorderThe primary objective with this study is to investigate the short-term efficacy (primary endpoint at week 3) of Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) provided soon after trauma. The secondary objective is to investigate the long-term efficacy (primary endpoint at week 7) of ICBT. 100 participants recently exposed to a potentially traumatic event will be randomised to either ICBT or assessment only.
Feasibility of Online Yoga With Facebook After Stillbirth
StillbirthPost-traumatic Stress Disorder2 moreThe purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness on PTSD symptoms of the addition of a Facebook group to an online yoga intervention for women following a stillbirth.