Evaluating a Novel Working Memory Training Program to Decrease Symptoms of PTSD

October 4, 2017 updated by: Rick Gulizia
The study is designed to evaluate the effect of a novel computer training program on PTSD.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Post-traumatic stress Disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and debilitating disorder that affects millions of people each year (Kessler et al., 2005). Although effective psychosocial and pharmacological treatments exist for this disorder, as many as 50 percent of individuals still experience symptoms after treatment (Schottenbaeur et al., 2008). Empirical literature suggests that cognitive deficits may play a role in maintaining symptoms in individuals with PTSD through a variety of mechanisms, including decreased cognitive control over intrusive thoughts (Verwoerd et al., in press) and dysregulation in neural circuitry linking prefrontal cognitive control functions and amygdala activity (McNally, 2007). The goals of the proposed research are to improve the candidate's understanding of cognitive mechanisms of PTSD symptoms while building skills in conducting treatment research. The application aims to test a novel methodology for approaching PTSD treatment based on modification of underlying cognitive mechanisms of the disorder. To this end, 50 participants with PTSD will be randomly assigned to an 8-session executive control training condition designed to improve working memory functioning or a control condition. The aims of this study are 1) To test the effect of a working memory training program on working memory performance and 2) To examine the effects of this program on PTSD symptoms. The research plan is complemented by a set of training goals for the candidate to achieve over the proposed award period. These include 1) training in the use of fMRI and neuropsychological assessment 2) additional coursework and seminars in cognitive science and biostatistics for use in future work, 3) experience with teaching in the undergraduate and graduate setting and presenting original work for publication in preparation for a career in academic research. Taken together, the research and training components of this grant application will facilitate the candidate's long-term goal of conducting treatment outcome and basic mechanism research in PTSD. Moreover, as per the strategic plan outlined by NIMH, this application is designed develop an innovative intervention based on prior clinical research and knowledge of cognitive and neurobiological features of the disorder, and will advance knowledge of mechanisms of fear learning. It is designed to target core cognitive features of the disorder in an effort to reduce symptoms. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Post-traumatic stress disorder impacts millions of Americans, and is associated with significant personal distress as well as societal cost. The current application is designed to examine the effect of a novel working memory training program on PTSD symptoms. This approach is promising in that it may be a cost- effective and accessible method for decreasing symptoms associate with this disorder.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
47

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female
  • Age 18-65
  • Primary DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD secondary to sexual trauma

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current trauma or PTSD-focused psychosocial treatment
  • Active suicidality, evidence of substance dependence in the past 6 months
  • Evidence of current or past schizophrenia
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Organic mental disorder

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: High Interference Control Condition
Computerized training program requiring participants to repeatedly practice controlling interference on a cognitive task
Other: Computerized Cognitive Training - active
Cognitive training using working memory span task
Active Comparator: Low Interference Control Condition
Computerized training program requiring participants to minimally practice controlling interference on a cognitive task
Other: Computerized cognitive training - sham
Sham training condition

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale; Re-experiencing
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4

Model estimations of the means and standard deviation of posttreatment score at the mean level of baseline severity reported below.

Scale range: 0-40, higher values indicate greater symptom severity
Baseline, Week 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale Total Score - Responder Status
Time Frame: Week 4
Number of Participants Who Responded According to Clinician Administered PTSD Scale Total Score
Week 4
Change in Depression: Beck Depression Inventory
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4
Scale Range: 0-63; higher scores indicate greater symptom severity
Baseline, Week 4
Change in General Anxiety: Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4
Range: 20-80; higher scores indicate greater symptom severity
Baseline, Week 4
Change in Functional Impairment; Sheehan Disability Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4
Range: 0-30; greater values indicate greater disability severity ratings
Baseline, Week 4

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Rick Gulizia

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jessica A Bomyea, M.S., San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego
  • Principal Investigator: Ariel J Lang, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2010

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 12, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 13, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 15, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 6, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 4, 2017

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • F31MH088170 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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