IRT and CBT in Sexual Assault Victims With PTSD

October 5, 2023 updated by: Geneviève Belleville, Laval University

Efficacy of Sequential Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy in Sexual Assault Victims With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a Randomized Control Trial

Sexual assault victims (SAV) have an elevated risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective first-line treatment for this pathology. However, although sleep disturbances are a common complaint in SAV with PTSD, trauma-focused CBT does not directly address this symptom. Posttraumatic nightmares are widespread among SAV. Trauma-related sleep disturbances are associated with significant impairment in general functioning and quality of life (mental and physical health), and contribute to the maintenance of PTSD symptoms. This study evaluates the efficacy of sequential nightmare therapy (imagery rehearsal therapy; IRT) and trauma-focused CBT, in comparison to CBT alone. Forty-two SAV suffering from PTSD and sleep difficulties were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental (IRT+CBT) or control condition (waiting period followed by CBT alone). Participants were administered a clinical interview and a series of questionnaires assessing PTSD symptoms, general functioning and quality of life.

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.

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.
42

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

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Quebec
      • Québec, Quebec, Canada, G1V 0A6
        • Service de Consultation de l'École de Psychologie

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 and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • over 18 years of age;
  • able to understand and speak French;
  • history of unwanted sexual experience;
  • PTSD diagnosis according to DSM-IV-TR;
  • sleep complaints, as established by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥ 5 and a mean of one or more NM per week for at least one month;
  • if psychotropic medication was used, (antidepressant, antianxiety, antipsychotic or hypnotic medication) stable for a minimum of three months;
  • available for in-person assessments and therapy sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • past or present psychotic episode, bipolar disorder or organic mental disorder (e.g. dementia);
  • substance use disorder;
  • sleep apnea diagnosis;
  • use of prazosine to treat nightmares;
  • presently in treatment for psychological difficulties;
  • significant suicidal thoughts requiring immediate intervention.

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: None (Open Label)

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.
Active Comparator: CBT for PTSD
15 sessions of trauma-focused CBT
Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD
Trauma-focused CBT protocol elaborated by Marchand and Guay from the Trauma Studies Centre at Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital in Montreal and adapted from Foa, Hembree and Rothbaum (2007)
Experimental: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy + CBT for PTSD
5 sessions of IRT + 15 sessions of trauma-focused CBT
Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD
Trauma-focused CBT protocol elaborated by Marchand and Guay from the Trauma Studies Centre at Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital in Montreal and adapted from Foa, Hembree and Rothbaum (2007)
Behavioral: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy
IRT protocol published by Nappi and collaborators (2010)

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 Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score
Time Frame: Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Self-report questionnaire
Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Change in Modified PTSD Symptom Scale - Self Report total score
Time Frame: Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Self-report questionnaire
Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU

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
Change in Nightmare Distress Questionnaire total score
Time Frame: Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Self-report questionnaire
Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - Addendum for PTSD total score
Time Frame: Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Self-report questionnaire
Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Change in World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule total and subscale scores
Time Frame: Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Self-report questionnaire
Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Change in Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey subscale scores
Time Frame: Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Self-report questionnaire
Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Change in Beliefs About Psychological Service total score
Time Frame: Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Self-report questionnaire
Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Change in Working Alliance Inventory subscale scores
Time Frame: Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU
Self-report questionnaire
Pre-Treatment; Post-Treatment 1 (5 weeks after pre-treatment); Post-Treatment 2 (20 weeks after pre-treatment); 3-month FU; 6-month FU; 12-month FU

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.
Laval University

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: Geneviève Belleville, Laval University

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 (Actual)

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.
December 20, 2012

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.
May 1, 2016

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.
August 1, 2016

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 23, 2017

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 25, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

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 30, 2017

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.
October 6, 2023

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 5, 2023

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, 2023

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.
  • 000000 (MRDC)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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