Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

San Diego, CA

161 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Trials near San Diego, CA

Power is an online platform that helps thousands of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder patients discover FDA-reviewed trials every day. Every trial we feature meets safety and ethical standards, giving patients an easy way to discover promising new treatments in the research stage.

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No Placebo
Highly Paid
Stay on Current Meds
Pivotal Trials (Near Approval)
Breakthrough Medication
The objective of this study is to develop and pilot test a telehealth-based mental health screening and engagement program that supports parents as their infants transition home from the NICU. The program will use a stepped-care approach to screen parents for depression, anxiety, and PTSD; provide a brief behavioral intervention to those who screen as having at least a low risk of these conditions; and provide a warm hand-off to community mental health services for those at medium to high risk.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

72 Participants Needed

The goal of this single-group clinical trial is to learn about the initial efficacy and feasibility of telehealth-delivered Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for autistic adults with traumatic stress symptoms. The main questions the investigators aim to answer are: * Do symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-occurring mental health concerns decrease after receiving WET? * Do biobehavioral health outcomes, including objective (Fitbit indicators of activity, sleep, and heart rate) and subjectively-reported health variables (e.g., sleep, pain, health-related quality of life), improve after receiving WET? * How do autistic adults experience WET, and how can this program be modified and enhance in the future in collaboration with autistic adults? Participants will complete the following as part of the study, which is completed entirely over telehealth. * Participants will first complete an initial assessment, involving brief measures of cognition and autistic traits, as well as interviews and questionnaires about PTSD, mental health, and physical health. If eligible, participants will proceed to the following steps: * Eligible participants will then start wearing a Fitbit, to be used for the duration of the study. * Participants will then participate in 5 weekly virtual visits involving the WET protocol, including weekly brief assessment of PTSD and mental and physical health. * Then, participants will complete a sixth virtual visit the following week where PTSD, mental and physical health, and treatment feedback are assessed. * Lastly, participants will complete virtual visits 1 and 6 months later involving re-assessment of PTSD and mental and physical health. Therefore, this is a pre-post single group design, where all participants will receive WET to establish initial efficacy and feasibility. Investigators will also consult with an autistic advisory board throughout the project, and make adaptations as recommended in consultation with autistic adults. The goal is to better understand the initial efficacy and feasibility of WET for supporting autistic adults who have experienced trauma.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

30 Participants Needed

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a single dose of ketamine during surgery can help lower pain, reduce the need for opioid medications, and improve mental health recovery in adults with serious orthopedic injuries. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ketamine lower pain after surgery? Does ketamine help reduce how much opioid medicine participants need? Does ketamine improve symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Researchers will compare participants who receive ketamine during surgery to those who receive standard anesthesia without ketamine. Participants will: Receive either ketamine or standard anesthesia during surgery Answer survey questions about pain, depression, and PTSD at several points after surgery (from a few days up to 6 months) Be followed by the research team through clinic visits and phone calls
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 4
Age:18 - 65

90 Participants Needed

This study will deploy a scalable secondary prevention program that leverages existing foster youth transition services to improve mental health functioning and service use before and after exiting foster care. Our short-term objective is to remotely test a group intervention called Stronger Youth Networks and Coping (SYNC) that targets cognitive schemas influencing stress responses, including mental health help-seeking and service engagement, among foster youth with behavioral health risk. SYNC aims to increase youth capacity to appraise stress and regulate emotional responses, to flexibly select adaptive coping strategies, and to promote informal and formal help-seeking as an effective coping strategy. The proposed aims will establish whether the 10-module program engages the targeted proximal mechanisms with a signal of efficacy on clinically-relevant outcomes, and whether a fully-powered randomized control trial (RCT) of SYNC is feasible in the intended service context. Our first aim is to refine our SYNC curriculum and training materials, prior to testing SYNC in a remote single-arm trial with two cohorts of 8-10 Oregon foster youth aged 16-20 (N=26). Our second aim is to conduct a remote two-arm individually-randomized group treatment trial with Oregon foster youth aged 16-20 with indicated behavioral health risk (N=80) to examine: (a) intervention group change on proximal mechanisms of coping self-efficacy and help-seeking attitudes, compared to services-as-usual at post-intervention and 6-month follow-up: and (b) association between the mechanisms and targeted outcomes, including emotional regulation, coping behaviors, mental health service use, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Our third aim is to refine and standardize the intervention and research protocol for an effectiveness trial, including confirming transferability with national stakeholders.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:16 - 20

106 Participants Needed

PTSD is a chronic mental health condition that drastically reduces an individual's quality of life Dextrose injection with a small needle has been used for chronic pain patients and observational results have shown it to be effective in reducing anxiety, brain fog, and depression in patients with PTSD. This randomized trial will compare dextrose injection with a delayed/usual treatment control.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:19 - 90

24 Participants Needed

Group treatments may be helpful for Veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST). By doing this study, the investigators hope to learn if two different groups: Warrior Renew and Health \& Wellness are effective in reducing mental health symptoms in Veterans who have experienced MST and if either is more effective than the other. Participation in this research will last about 16 weeks.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

134 Participants Needed

One of the principal complicating factors associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sleep-wake disturbances (e.g., insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders). Morning bright light therapy (MBLT) has been shown to improve sleep quality in a variety of conditions, but little has been done investigating the utility of MBLT in improving sleep in Veterans with TBI. This proposal aims to determine the effect of MBLT on sleep quality in Veterans with TBI. Veterans with and without TBI will be recruited from the VA Portland Health Care System. Baseline questionnaires and 7 days of actigraphy will be collected prior to engaging in 60 minutes of MBLT daily for 4 weeks, during which actigraphy will also be collected continuously. Post-MBLT questionnaire data will be collected, and follow-up questionnaire data will be collected at 3 months post-MBLT.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

200 Participants Needed

Approximately half a million Veterans receiving services at the VA have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is strongly associated with cognitive functioning deficits in areas of concentration, attention, memory, learning, verbal abilities, processing speed, and multitasking. Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) is an evidence-based intervention for cognitive problems that is effective in other Veteran populations such as those with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), but CCT has not yet been tested in Veterans with PTSD who don't have a history of TBI. The investigators will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of CCT in Veterans who have been treated for PTSD but continue to have cognitive functioning deficits. The investigators will examine feasibility, acceptability, participant characteristics, and effect size estimates in preparation for a fully-powered RCT of CCT for PTSD-related cognitive functioning deficits.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

21 Participants Needed

The "polytrauma clinical triad" (PCT), a highly disabling constellation of factors, is defined by the coexistence of traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain. Veterans with the PCT are medically complex, often refractory to conventional therapies, and suffer from additional related chronic sequela. Notably, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment, which the investigators hypothesize are significant contributing factors to these functional impairments and an impediment toward rehabilitation. Thus, the investigators' research aims to intervene "at the level of sleep", and by improving sleep, improve these interconnected, disabling, and difficult to treat enduring complexities associated with the PCT - ultimately to improve Veteran quality of life, functional independence, and restorative function. The investigators predict that the proposed intervention, morning bright light therapy, which is cost-effective, rapidly deployable and home-based, will be effective in improving sleep and overall PCT symptom management, thereby, resulting in a measurable and impactful improvement in quality of life.
Stay on current meds

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

96 Participants Needed

Group MDMA Therapy for PTSD

Vancouver, Washington
This Phase 2a, open-label, non-randomized, 3-cohort study assesses the feasibility and safety of MDMA-assisted group therapy for the treatment of PTSD in veterans. The study will be conducted in up to N=18 participants, recruited in three cohorts of six participants each and receive therapy sessions throughout their participation in these group cohorts.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 1, 2
Age:18 - 64

23 Participants Needed

This study is a prospective two-arm, single blind randomized controlled trial design to compare the clinical effectiveness of telemedicine-delivered, 6-session, standardized cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and mindfulness-based treatment for insomnia (MBTI) in treating insomnia symptoms and ameliorating depressive symptoms in persons with mild to moderate TBI and comorbid Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) and insomnia symptoms in a 360 patients. Participants will undergo assessment (psychosocial questionnaires, neurocognitive testing, sleep monitoring) at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at 2-, 6- and 12-weeks post-treatment. The primary outcome is sleep as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

360 Participants Needed

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many individuals who experience a traumatic event. There are a variety of treatment options for PTSD, including psychotherapy (talk therapy) options, as well as medications, such as the drug prazosin. Each of the treatment options available is effective at significantly reducing the symptoms of PTSD in some, but not all, individuals with PTSD. However, investigators are not yet able to predict in advance who is likely to respond to which of the available treatments. Neither are the investigators able to explain what changes in the brain after exposure to a traumatic stressors, and why it results in persistent symptoms of PTSD for some people, but not for others. In this study, the investigators are testing two things: First, is testing whether two simple, easy tests of how an individual's blood pressure changes with standing and how an individual's eye reacts to a pulse of light may be able to predict whether that person is likely to respond to the medication prazosin for PTSD. Second, is testing whether those who have been exposed to a traumatic stress show differences in how their body regulates the response to the stress-signal noradrenaline.
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3
Age:21 - 75

87 Participants Needed

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently accompanied by difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and inability to keep up with tasks, which negatively impacts a person's ability to function at work and in relationships. Currently available treatments do not fully relieve all symptoms. A published research report showed positive evidence that the stimulant medication methylphenidate was beneficial in treating these problems. This study will evaluate the ability of methylphenidate to treat PTSD and associated neurocognitive complaints in Veterans. An innovative feature is the study's N-of-1 design. In this design, every participant will move back and forth every 4-5 weeks between treatment with methylphenidate and treatment with placebo, in random order and under double-blind conditions, over a 20-week period. The investigators will compare the aggregated change in PTSD and neurocognitive symptoms between periods of treatment with methylphenidate versus placebo. Results will help clinicians to better choose the best treatment for Veterans living with PTSD.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 4
Age:18 - 65

70 Participants Needed

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a significant and expanding health problem, and no FDA approved treatments are currently available. Persons with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may use cannabis to help control symptoms. Relief from PTSD insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, and preoccupying thoughts have been reported as troublesome symptoms targeted by cannabis users. Risks from cannabis use by individuals with PTSD have been reported. Chronic use of cannabis can lead to tolerance, requiring increased use for symptom relief, and withdrawal symptoms upon stopping. CUD is more frequent and severe in those with PTSD than those without. Many symptoms of cannabis withdrawal overlap with troubling symptoms of PTSD and thus may be interpreted as a relapse of PTSD symptoms. Those attempting to reduce or stop cannabis use may experience cannabis withdrawal symptoms including insomnia and distressing dreams, anxiety, irritability, and/or excessive sweating that they may misattribute to re-emerging or untreated PTSD symptoms. Excessive brain adrenaline activity is arguably the best-described neurobiological contribution to the pathophysiology of PTSD. Prazosin, a drug that blocks the negative effects of brain adrenaline, has demonstrated effectiveness in robustly reducing PTSD-related nightmares and sleep disturbance in active duty Servicemembers and recently discharged combat Veterans in most, but not all, clinical trials, as well as in civilians with non-combat trauma. Clinically, the investigators have observed that several patients with PTSD using cannabis to treat insomnia and/or trauma-related nightmares and wanting to reduce their cannabis use were able to achieve reduction or cessation of cannabis use once they were treated with an effective dose of prazosin. Therefore, we have wondered if prazosin may provide sufficient treatment of PTSD symptoms otherwise targeted by cannabis, supporting those individuals' efforts to reduce cannabis use. This open-label pilot study aims to study the feasibility of prazosin as a treatment for CUD in individuals with or without comorbid PTSD, and to evaluate if additional research on a larger scale is warranted.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 4

20 Participants Needed

Title: ERG as a potential biomarker of SSRI-responsive PTSD: A pilot study Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many individuals who experience a traumatic event. Previous studies suggest that there is a connection between the brain and the retina, and that the electroretinogram (ERG) may be a valuable biomarker to tell us more about signals in the brain that are related to mental health disorders like PTSD. The goal of this observational study is to examine the ERG waveform in veterans with PTSD before and after a single dose of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), sertraline. Sertraline is one of two FDA-approved medications for the treatment of PTSD. The main questions this pilot study aims to answer are: 1. How does sertraline, an SSRI, influence the ERG waveform in veterans with PTSD? 2. Is there a significant correlation between baseline ERG signals and the change in ERG following SSRI treatment? Participants will be asked to: * Undergo ERG recordings before and after a single dose of sertraline. * Provide relevant clinical information related to PTSD symptoms and treatment history. Following the initial study visits, participants will enter an optional open label phase of the study in which qualifying participants who initiate antidepressant treatment through routine clinical care will be invited back for a follow-up ERG recording.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:21 - 75

50 Participants Needed

PE Coach App for PTSD

Seattle, Washington
Thousands of mental health mobile applications (apps) are available but limited research has been conducted on their effectiveness. VA has been a leader in mental health mobile app development and must research whether these apps work, and if so, how? PE Coach is a well-designed treatment companion app to one of the most researched, efficacious psychotherapies for PTSD (prolonged exposure), a treatment that has been broadly disseminated throughout VA mental health clinics. Research suggests that VA therapists find the app helpful in supporting patients. Preliminary results suggest that Veteran patients prefer to receive therapy withPE Coach and Veterans complete more recovery-oriented homework when they do. This study will randomize 124 Veterans with PTSD to treatment with or without PE Coach. The project will evaluate the effect of the app on PTSD-related functioning, quality of life, and PTSD symptoms. The investigators will test whether the app improves functioning and symptoms, increases homework, and reduces drop out.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 65

124 Participants Needed

This trial tests a new weight loss program, MOVE!+UP, for Veterans with PTSD who are overweight. The program combines weight loss support with therapy to address PTSD-related challenges. It aims to improve both weight and PTSD symptoms. MOVE!+UP is a tailored weight management program developed to address the unique barriers faced by veterans with PTSD, combining weight loss education with cognitive behavior therapy skills.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting

174 Participants Needed

This study is a phase 2 single-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial with an open-label extension phase to examine the safety, efficacy, and durability of psilocybin (25 mg) combined with psychological support (Psi-PS) for treatment of approximately 40 military veterans and first responders (ages 18-65) with co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychological support is defined as providing safety, reassurance, active listening, and empathetic presence during the drug administration session in a nondirective manner. We hypothesize that Psi-PS may provide a safe and effective treatment for participants.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 65

40 Participants Needed

The R33 will be a randomized controlled trial to replicate changes in the targets (unproductive processing, avoidance, reward deficits) from the R61 phase in a larger sample of 135 participants who have experienced a destabilizing life event involving profound loss or threat, report persistent stressor-related symptoms of PTSD and/or depression, and are elevated on symptoms related to 2 of the 3 therapeutic targets. Additionally, this study will examine Positive Processes and Transition to Health (PATH)'s impact on stressor-related psychopathology in comparison to Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). In the R33 phase, the investigators will examine changes in target mechanisms predicting improvements in PTSD and depressive symptoms, as well as feasibility and acceptability. Patients will receive 6 sessions of PATH or PMR (with 2 boosters, if partial responders). Primary targets will be assessed at pre-treatment, week 3, post-treatment, and at 1- and 3-month follow-up; secondary targets at pre-treatment, weekly during treatment, post-treatment, and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 65

135 Participants Needed

This investigation is a randomized pragmatic trial of a brief stepped care intervention delivered from an acute care medical trauma center that may both reduce the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and diminish emergency department health service utilization.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

424 Participants Needed

Why Other Patients Applied

"My orthopedist recommended a half replacement of my right knee. I have had both hips replaced. Currently have arthritis in knee, shoulder, and thumb. I want to avoid surgery, and I'm open-minded about trying a trial before using surgery as a last resort."

HZ
Arthritis PatientAge: 78

"I've been struggling with ADHD and anxiety since I was 9 years old. I'm currently 30. I really don't like how numb the medications make me feel. And especially now, that I've lost my grandma and my aunt 8 days apart, my anxiety has been even worse. So I'm trying to find something new."

FF
ADHD PatientAge: 31

"I've tried several different SSRIs over the past 23 years with no luck. Some of these new treatments seem interesting... haven't tried anything like them before. I really hope that one could work."

ZS
Depression PatientAge: 51

"I changed my diet in 2020 and I’ve lost 95 pounds from my highest weight (283). I am 5’3”, female, and now 188. I still have a 33 BMI. I've been doing research on alternative approaches to continue my progress, which brought me here to consider clinical trials."

WR
Obesity PatientAge: 58

"I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer three months ago, metastatic to my liver, and I have been receiving and responding well to chemotherapy. My blood work revealed that my tumor markers have gone from 2600 in the beginning to 173 as of now, even with the delay in treatment, they are not going up. CT Scans reveal they have been shrinking as well. However, chemo is seriously deteriorating my body. I have 4 more treatments to go in this 12 treatment cycle. I am just interested in learning about my other options, if any are available to me."

ID
Pancreatic Cancer PatientAge: 40
The investigators will screen all mechanically ventilated ED patients for study eligibility and will enroll all consecutive patients satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study design is a pragmatic, multicenter, stepped wedge cluster randomized trial, enrolling at five sites over a 3-year period, divided into six time periods of six months. Prior to the study, each site will be randomized to their position within the design. One site will cross to the intervention period (i.e. succinylcholine as default neuromuscular blocker) every six months from the 2nd to 6th time period. Cluster order will be determined by computer-based randomization. To begin, each site will be exposed to control conditions; by the end of the study, each site will be exposed to intervention conditions. Patients in the control phase will receive usual care, and this phase will be entirely observational. After six months, a site will enter a 2-month transition phase. In this phase, the investigators will implement the intervention, similar to how they have implemented other ED-based interventions for mechanically ventilated patients. The investigators will engage and educate ED clinicians on the importance of AWP prevention and the study objectives. The intervention framework relies on the use of "nudges", without restricting choice. The use of neuromuscular blockers (i.e. "paralytic" medications) is already part of routine care in the ED in order to facilitate endotracheal intubation and initiation of mechanical ventilation for patients with acute respiratory failure. The two most common neuromuscular blockers used in the ED are succinylcholine and rocuronium. The preliminary data show a strong association between rocuronium (a longer-acting neuromuscular blocker) use and AWP. Therefore, this study aims to improve care by educating caregivers on AWP and the use of the neuromuscular blockers, which are already routinely used, and studying that process in a rigorous fashion. The default neuromuscular blocker in the intervention phase will be succinylcholine. Succinylcholine will be the default over rocuronium because: 1) it has safely been the default neuromuscular blocker of choice in the ED for \>40 years ; 2) its 5-minute duration of action greatly reduces AWP risk; 3) the preliminary data regarding an increased risk of AWP with rocuronium and 4) ED rocuronium use has increased despite no patient-centered studies showing benefit over succinylcholine. Passive alerts (i.e. graphics, pocket cards) will also be strategically placed in the ED, and active alerts will be used as reminders before every nursing shift (i.e. "the huddle"). After this transition phase, the site will begin the intervention phase, and patients will again receive clinician-directed care, just after the intervention.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

3090 Participants Needed

The purpose of this study is to use a stepped-care approach in treating symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The information learned by doing this study may help us to develop some target treatments for PTSD symptoms in survivors of stem cell transplant. Participants in this study will be randomized to a mobile app or usual care. An assessment will be made after 4 weeks and a determination made of adding more intensive treatment. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire 4 times over a period of 6 months, at the time your participation is complete.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

524 Participants Needed

The study aims to test the efficacy of a CBT-enhanced text message intervention and a supportive text message intervention to reduce symptom burden in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and co-occurring hazardous drinking.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

333 Participants Needed

Sexual assault can lead to devastating consequences including the development of chronic conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorders (AUD). Interventions delivered soon after exposure to assault can decrease the long-term negative consequences of sexual assault but existing interventions are limited in their ability to target concurrent PTSD symptoms and alcohol use and little is known about how to make best practice treatment decisions in the early period following sexual assault. A greater emphasis on transdiagnostic processes that are related to both PTSD and alcohol use, such as fear and reward systems, can elucidate mechanisms of recovery, lead to the development of more effective intervention approaches, and guide clinical decision making for patients recently exposed to sexual assault.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 65
Sex:Female

180 Participants Needed

The goal of this study is to find the most effective and efficient version of the THRIVE app. The THRIVE app is the first app-based preventative intervention that has been found to reduce alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress in people who have recently experienced sexual assault. In this trial, participants are randomly assigned to receive different versions of the THRIVE app to compare their impact. The THRIVE app is currently only available to participants in this study.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

464 Participants Needed

This study, "Biobehavioral Intervention to Reduce PTSD Symptoms After an ICD Shock," addresses a critical need in cardiology care by describing the feasibility and acceptability of a timely, highly promising, electronically-delivered intervention for patients who have recently received an ICD delivered shock. The study intervention and outcomes are designed to reduce anxiety, enhance return to activities of daily living (ADLs), and prevent the development of severe distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ultimately promote quality of life. The study is a two-arm, embedded mixed methods, randomized trial (N=60, 30/group). The purpose is to determine feasibility and potential effects of a self-management intervention (SPSM) plus usual care (UC) compared to UC alone, delivered during the critical 1 month period after an ICD shock when distress is high. The intervention will be delivered over 1 month following an ICD shock; a 6-month follow-up will be used to assess the sustainability of intervention effects and determine if the incidence of PTSD is reduced. SPSM includes: 1) training in heart rate (HR) self-monitoring; and 2) individualized learning through 4 self-paced, web-based modules. The study interventions are delivered at a crucial time, closely after an ICD shock when stress is high, but PTSD has not yet developed. The specific aims are to: 1) examine the effects of the SPSM intervention plus UC vs. UC alone on the primary outcome of ICD shock anxiety at 1 and 6 months post-shock event, 2) describe the impact of SPSM plus UC compared to UC alone on the secondary outcomes of total daily physical activity, depression, PTSD symptoms, QOL, salivary cortisol levels, and self-efficacy and outcome expectations at 1 and 6 months post-shock event, and 3) assess feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the SPSM intervention, SDOH will be used to describe differential responses to the SPSM intervention. This study fills a significant gap in the care of patients with an ICD, through the systematic testing of a brief, novel and cost-effective intervention that provides the knowledge and skills to improve quality of life. Study findings will be used to design future larger RCTs to test intervention effectiveness for more diverse samples and settings.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

60 Participants Needed

Combined Therapies for PTSD

Seattle, Washington
This trial tests a combined therapy for Veterans with PTSD at high risk for suicide. The treatment helps manage emotions and process trauma, aiming to reduce both PTSD symptoms and suicidal behaviors. This therapy has been shown to reduce suicidal thoughts and emotional instability among Veterans.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

200 Participants Needed

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the combination of Massed Prolonged Exposure (PE); a behavioral therapy for PTSD) and a stellate ganglion block (SGB; an injection of a local anesthetic into the front of the neck) with Massed Prolonged Exposure and a sham injection in a sample of military service members or retirees with PTSD. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) Does the addition of an SGB improve treatment outcomes associated with Massed PE and (2) Do differences in psychophysiological arousal during the exposure portion of treatment help explain treatment outcomes for PTSD. Participants will receive ten 90-minute session of Massed PE. Between the first and second Massed PE sessions, half of the participants will receive a SGB, and half will receive a sham SGB.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 65

140 Participants Needed

The goal of this clinical trial is to test an abbreviated, intensive, multi-couple group version of cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD (AIM-CBCT for PTSD) in an active military and veteran population. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does AIM-CBCT for PTSD improve PTSD symptoms? * Does AIM-CBCT for PTSD improve associated symptoms (e.g., depression), romantic partner distress, and couple relationship satisfaction? Participants will participate in a two-day retreat in which they are taught and practice skills to decrease PTSD symptoms and enhance their relationships. Researchers will compare AIM-CBCT for PTSD to the Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP) to determine whether it is superior to an evidence-based relationship education curriculum that is also delivered in a two-day multi-couple group format.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

120 Participants Needed

Posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescence impairs neurobiological networks underlying cognitive, social and emotional skills. Neuroimaging research that seeks to identify the neural mechanisms of treatments for PTSD could lead to novel treatments, but progress has been slow using current methods. The proposed study uses an innovative approach to identify neural mechanisms of specific phases of trauma-focused therapy for youth with PTSD, allowing a new understanding of brain changes associated with the process of therapy.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:12 - 17

180 Participants Needed

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clinical trials in San Diego, CA pay?

Each trial will compensate patients a different amount, but $50-100 for each visit is a fairly common range for Phase 2–4 trials (Phase 1 trials often pay substantially more). Further, most trials will cover the costs of a travel to-and-from the clinic.

How do Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clinical trials in San Diego, CA work?

After a researcher reviews your profile, they may choose to invite you in to a screening appointment, where they'll determine if you meet 100% of the eligibility requirements. If you do, you'll be sorted into one of the treatment groups, and receive your study drug. For some trials, there is a chance you'll receive a placebo. Across Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder trials in San Diego, CA 30% of clinical trials have a placebo. Typically, you'll be required to check-in with the clinic every month or so. The average trial length in San Diego, CA for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is 12 months.

How do I participate in a study as a "healthy volunteer"?

Not all studies recruit healthy volunteers: usually, Phase 1 studies do. Participating as a healthy volunteer means you will go to a research facility in San Diego, CA several times over a few days or weeks to receive a dose of either the test treatment or a "placebo," which is a harmless substance that helps researchers compare results. You will have routine tests during these visits, and you'll be compensated for your time and travel, with the number of appointments and details varying by study.

What does the "phase" of a clinical trial mean?

The phase of a trial reveals what stage the drug is in to get approval for a specific condition. Phase 1 trials are the trials to collect safety data in humans. Phase 2 trials are those where the drug has some data showing safety in humans, but where further human data is needed on drug effectiveness. Phase 3 trials are in the final step before approval. The drug already has data showing both safety and effectiveness. As a general rule, Phase 3 trials are more promising than Phase 2, and Phase 2 trials are more promising than phase 1.

Do I need to be insured to participate in a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder medical study in San Diego, CA?

Clinical trials are almost always free to participants, and so do not require insurance. The only exception here are trials focused on cancer, because only a small part of the typical treatment plan is actually experimental. For these cancer trials, participants typically need insurance to cover all the non-experimental components.

What are the newest Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clinical trials in San Diego, CA?

Most recently, we added Mobile App Therapy for PTSD and Depression, MOVED for PTSD and Health Services Intervention for PTSD to the Power online platform.

What is the new treatment for PTSD?

The two headline “new” approaches are MDMA-assisted psychotherapy—which has shown large symptom reductions in Phase-3 trials and could gain FDA approval soon—and the stellate ganglion block, an ultrasound-guided neck injection that can rapidly calm the nervous system and is already offered off-label by some pain specialists. Both are considered add-ons rather than replacements for proven trauma-focused talk therapies, and access currently means enrolling in a clinical trial for MDMA or seeing an experienced clinician for an SGB after discussing possible benefits, side-effects, and costs. If you’re interested, talk with a PTSD-trained mental-health professional to see whether one of these emerging treatments fits your situation.

What are the 7 symptoms of PTSD?

Clinicians group PTSD signs into four clusters, but popular summaries often point to seven tell-tale symptoms: intrusive memories or flashbacks, trauma-related nightmares, avoiding reminders, ongoing negative mood or beliefs, constant jumpiness/hyper-alertness, sudden irritability or anger, and trouble sleeping or concentrating. If several of these have lasted more than a month and are disrupting daily life, it’s time to talk with a mental-health professional because effective therapies and medications are available.

What is the difference between PTSD and clinical PTSD?

“Clinical PTSD” is not a formal medical label; most people use it to describe either (a) a full, doctor-confirmed PTSD diagnosis (meeting all four symptom clusters of intrusion, avoidance, negative mood/thoughts, and hyper-arousal) rather than a few stray symptoms, or (b) Complex PTSD, a newer ICD-11 diagnosis that includes all the usual PTSD features plus persistent problems with emotion control, negative self-view, and relationships after prolonged or repeated trauma. In short, standard PTSD focuses on how a single or short-lived traumatic event is re-experienced, whereas “clinical/complex” PTSD implies either full diagnostic severity or an added layer of long-term self-and-relationship difficulties—something a qualified mental-health professional can sort out and treat with trauma-focused therapy and, when needed, medication.

Does complex PTSD ever go away?

Complex PTSD can and often does get much better—many people reach full remission or only occasional, manageable flare-ups once they’ve had consistent, trauma-focused treatment (such as EMDR, TF-CBT, or a phase-based approach that first builds safety skills and then processes the trauma). How long that takes varies; factors like the length of the original abuse, other mental-health conditions, and access to supportive relationships and specialized care influence recovery, which is why some people need longer-term therapy or periodic “tune-ups.” In short, the condition isn’t necessarily lifelong, but viewing it as a journey—with professional help, skills practice, and a strong support network—gives the best odds of lasting relief.

Why is EMDR controversial?

Controversy arises from three fronts: first, although many studies now show EMDR can reduce post-traumatic stress as well as traditional exposure therapies, earlier weak studies and some mixed results planted doubt. Second, research shows the eye movements themselves may add little beyond standard exposure, so experts argue over the true mechanism and whether the name oversells a simple idea. Third, professional bodies only “conditionally” recommend EMDR and warn that brief weekend trainings can produce under-qualified providers, leading some clinicians to view it as over-marketed. Understanding these evidence, mechanism, and training debates explains why opinions on EMDR still differ.

Does PTSD count as a disability?

Yes. PTSD is legally treated as a disability whenever its symptoms are documented to substantially limit major life activities: Social Security can grant cash benefits, the VA can award a disability rating for service-connected stress, and the ADA requires employers to offer reasonable job accommodations. Collect medical records that show both a formal PTSD diagnosis and how it disrupts work, school, or daily tasks—the same principle applies in most other countries’ disability systems.

How to heal from trauma without therapy?

Begin by checking safety: if you’re having thoughts of self-harm, losing touch with reality, or using substances to cope, call a crisis line (e.g., 988 in the U.S.) or seek professional help. Otherwise, think of recovery in three daily practices—steady your body (slow breathing, walking, yoga), give the story gentle airtime (15-minute journaling or a free app like PTSD Coach), and reconnect with supportive people and purposeful activities—while tracking sleep, mood, and triggers each week to see progress. If symptoms stay the same or worsen after a couple of months of consistent effort, that’s your signal to add a trained therapist, group program, or tele-health option.

What diagnosis is close to PTSD?

The diagnosis most often mistaken for PTSD is Acute Stress Disorder—symptoms can look identical, but they start within days of the trauma and fade within a month; if they last longer, the label changes to PTSD. Clinicians also consider Complex PTSD (a longer-term form after chronic abuse), Adjustment Disorder (stress-triggered distress without flashbacks), and common anxiety or depression disorders that share sleep, mood or panic problems but are not tied to a specific traumatic memory. A mental-health professional sorts these out by asking about the kind of event that happened, how long symptoms have lasted, and whether true “re-experiencing” (flashbacks or nightmares of the trauma) is present.

Why is PTSD so hard to treat?

PTSD is tough to heal because severe stress literally rewires the brain’s alarm and memory centres, every person’s trauma history is different, and the core symptoms (avoidance, distrust, numbness) make it hard to start or stay in treatment. Recovery therefore usually requires a personalised mix of approaches—such as trauma-focused therapy, medication, and skills for sleep and safety—and patience while you and your clinician adjust the plan. The good news is that most people do improve, and newer tools like EMDR, virtual-reality exposure, ketamine or MDMA-assisted therapy are widening the options when first-line methods fall short.

Does Stellate ganglion block work for PTSD?

A stellate ganglion block can quiet the “fight-or-flight” nerves, and small studies—mainly in military populations—show it can lessen PTSD symptoms in roughly half of patients for a month or two; other trials have found no clear benefit, so results are mixed. Because evidence is still limited and short-term, specialists usually offer SGB only as an adjunct to proven treatments (therapy, medications) after weighing its brief relief against the need for repeat injections and the procedure’s small but real risks (infection, hoarse voice, temporary eyelid droop). Discussing it with a trauma-focused mental-health provider and an experienced pain or anesthesia physician can help decide if this experimental option makes sense in your overall care plan.

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