Active clinical trials for "Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic"

This study investigates a novel approach to animal-assisted interventions through a series of wildlife immersion activities (wildlife observation, wildlife rehabilitation and bird feeding/watching) for veterans who have suffered trauma as part of their military duty. Findings from this study will advance scientific knowledge about the benefits of wildlife activities for veterans with PTSD including the acceptability, feasibility, safety and preliminary influence on physical and mental well-being. The findings will be instrumental in advancing a new area of health intervention research for veterans in settings that are publicly accessible and family-oriented for sustainable, low-cost interventions with potential application in other populations.

The study will examine the effects of eight weeks of equine assisted activities (EAA) on co-regulation, basal physiological values, and symptom severity in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Heart rate, respiration rate, surface electromyography (EMG) and plasma concentrations of cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin will be measured at rest and during dyadic interaction tasks (human to human or human to horse) to assess effects of EAA on these measures. Additionally, standard and regularly used questionnaires will be used to monitor PTSD symptom severity during the study and 6-month follow-up period. EAA is expected to lower PTSD symptom severity, and mitigate other physiological changes associated with PTSD.

The purpose of designing this randomized control trial is to observe the effect of nature-based walk on post-traumatic growth and Psychophysiological alterations associated with it, in traumatic stress among health care providers of Karachi Pakistan. This study is planned to investigate the recreational exposure to the natural environment for the promotion of PTG, in the traumatic stress subjects and to determine whether PTG is associated with psychophysiological alterations, i.e. C-Reactive Protein, Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor, Interleukin-6, Cortisol, and Heart Rate Variability. Subjects who had experienced any traumatic event in the last 12 months will be recruited, and at baseline, the participant will be assessed with Trauma Symptom Checklist 40 to evaluate trauma intensity. Moreover, subjects who had developed PTG or did not have any trauma intensity will be excluded from the study. Blinded treatment will be provided to subjects meeting eligibility criteria and will be randomized into two groups sequentially as they agree to participate. The nature-based walk will be used as intervention vs the control (relax in nature). The study outcomes will be monitored in subjects of both groups at different intervals, i.e. at baseline and 3-month follow-up (post-interventional).

Service Dogs are trained to assist people with disabilities to accomplish tasks which permit the individual to be more functional in their home and social environment. Often the dogs are trained to help in the completion of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Service Dogs are efficacious for individuals with disabilities, such as vision limitations, spinal cord injury and hearing problems. In addition, some mental health outcomes have improved with the introduction of a Service Dog. A research study was mandated in the Department of Defense Bill of 2010, to examine the efficacy of service dogs for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Together with the Cooperative Studies Program, the proponents have designed a research study to effectively meet the demands of the Bill and to provide timely research into an evolving field.

This study is designed to look at that involvement of a process in the brain called the glutamate system in depression. Participants will undergo a screening session, up to two functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans, and up to three Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, as well as cognitive testing at each scan session. For one of the PET scans, a drug (either ketamine or n-acetyl cysteine) will be administered. Hypothesis 1: The investigators hypothesize administration of ketamine or n-acetylcysteine (NAC) will lead to a decrease in mGluR5. Hypothesis 2: The investigators hypothesize an improvement in memory and attentional skills after drug challenge. Hypothesis 3: The investigators hypothesize an increase in mGluR5 availability and change in MRI measures post drug challenge as compared to baseline, signifying synaptogenesis. Hypothesis 4: We expect there should not be a significant difference in reduction in mGluR5 availability due to differences in ABP688 radiotracer infusion.

The aim of our study is to determine the feasibility of carrying out a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate whether screening parents of children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) so as to target follow-up at those most at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is effective at reducing adverse psychological sequelae.

There is evidence that glucocorticoids have an impact on intrusive memories in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hydrocortisone impairs intrusive memory retrieval whereas dexamethasone should strengthen intrusions in PTSD. We, the investigators, want to investigate (1) the effect of these two glucocorticoids on traumatic memories and (2) assess the neural correlates using the script-driven imagery paradigm in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. We hypothesize that intrusive memories are less intensive under hydrocortisone-administration and more intense under dexamethasone-administration comparing both to a placebo-condition. Regarding the neural activation pattern we expect higher activation in the hydrocortisone condition in the amygdala, the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex compared to the placebo-condition and less activation in the dexamethasone-condition compared to the placebo-condition.

Infants born premature face numerous medical problems, causing significant anxiety for their parents. Parents experience a range of negative emotions including concern for the health and well being of their fragile infant, guilt, and disappointment. Research has indicated that having an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is highly stressful for parents and multiple studies have demonstrated that parents can develop significant psychological reactions to this experience. Specifically, many parents develop clinically significant anxiety disorders such as acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This not only impacts the mental well-being of the parents, but also can lead to problems with the parent-infant relationship, and, in turn, negatively impact the infant and the family as a whole. Despite the reported negative effects parents experience due to the stress of having an infant on the NICU, surprisingly little research has examined how to reduce parents' symptoms of anxiety. Because parents play an essential role in the care of their infant after discharge from the NICU, treating the parent's emotional distress is highly important. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a cognitive-behaviorally based intervention in reducing parents' symptoms of anxiety associated with having an infant on the NICU. This treatment is modeled after treatments that have proven effective with parents of children with other types of medical problems, for example, parents of children with cancer. It is the hope of the investigators that this intervention will effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety of NICU parents as well as the likelihood of developing subsequent psychological disorders.

This research program has addressed three reactive adaptations evident in pain, PTSD, and obesity. In this project, the focus will be on PTSD as a model of stimulus-based reactive responses to unpredictability or threat, and the investigators propose to test the efficacy of the goal-directed skills training (GRIT) program for restoring predictive responding and homeostasis. The challenge of how best to cultivate psychological resilience in the face of stress, trauma, and social adversity among disadvantaged populations is a complex question best answered with a translational research approach. This research' intent is to help African American women who are dealing with stress after traumatic experiences. It will specifically study Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, a disorder that affects people who have experienced severe traumas. It is associated with a number of overwhelming emotional symptoms. These include sleep difficulties, depression and anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares of the traumatic events. The training is an 8-week skill building program that helps people use positive experiences from their past to cope with current difficulties. The investigators will collect blood samples for future research to understand how the body's stress response changes as a result of this training

The Cancer Distress Coach (CDC) mobile app is a symptom management tool for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in cancer patients and caregivers. Based largely on "PTSD Coach" from the National Center for PTSD, the CDC app was redesigned for both iOS and Android platforms and is tailored specifically to individuals impacted by cancer. This study aims to evaluate whether CDC app usage influences symptoms of PTSD through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where subjects are placed into either the intervention group or the wait-listed control group for a period of 8 weeks. The CDC app is available as a free download on the App Store® and on Google Play™.