Group-based Stabilization and Skill Training for Patients With Lasting Posttraumatic Reactions in Mental Health Care

April 24, 2026 updated by: St. Olavs Hospital

Adding a Group Based Stabilization and Skill Training Intervention for Patients With Long Lasting Posttraumatic Reactions Receiving Outpatient Treatment in Specialized Mental Health Care - A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study evaluates the addition of a group based stabilization and skill-training intervention to individual out-patient treatment for long lasting post-traumatic reactions. Half of the participants will receive the combined treatment while the other half will receive individual treatment as usual.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

Many patients in mental health care have previously experienced life-stressors and traumatic events that are related to the problems they seek treatment for. Although the diagnostic labels vary, the clinical picture often demonstrates long lasting complex psychological and somatic post-traumatic symptoms such as avoidance, bodily activation, difficulties in regulating emotions and in relationships with others, impaired quality of life and reduced level of function. Patients often receive long-term individual therapy in general mental health care, occasionally without clinically significant improvement. Still, they continue treatment due to high symptom pressure and low level of functioning. The study targets a novel intervention which tests the effect of adding a group based stabilization and skill training intervention to conventional individual treatment among 160 patients already receiving treatment in a community mental health hospital. Change in variables covering mental health issues, functional impairment, well-being, use of hospital services and drug prescriptions will be examined, as well as markers of inflammation found in sera before and after intervention. The purpose is to develop better and more effective treatment options for a large number of patients who receive mental health care in community mental health hospitals.

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 (Estimated)

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.
160

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Norway
      • Trondheim, Norway
        • Recruiting
        • Department of Tiller DPS, St. Olavs Hospital University Hospital in Trondheim
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Heidi Brattland, PhD

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

14 years to 71 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Receiving treatment in ordinary out-patient clinics
  • Having been exposed to or witnessing to traumatic event(s) defined as "one or several extremely threatening or horrific events or series of events or situations being of such a character which is likely to overwhelming distress in almost anyone in a similar situation", measured by Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire
  • Presenting with posttraumatic reactions such as hyperarousal, avoidance, intrusions, emotional dysregulation or interpersonal difficulties.
  • Symptom duration for a minimum of six months.
  • Understand and speak Norwegian to an extent that is required to participate in a stabilization- and skill-training group.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active psychotic symptoms.
  • Substance or drug addiction or abuse.
  • High suicidal risk considered by the individual therapist.
  • Having participated in the course previously.

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.
Experimental: Intervention group
Group-based stabilization and skill-training combined with individual treatment.
Behavioral: Group-based stabilization and skill training in addition to individual treatment
Group-based stabilization and skill training, weekly 2-hour sessions during 20 weeks. Based on the manual "Tilbake til Nåtid" ("Back to here and now") (Holbæk, 2014) developed by clinicians in the highly specialized national trauma clinic 'Modum Bad's Trauma Clinic'.
Active Comparator: controls
Individual treatment as usual only.
Other: Treatment as usual
Treatment as usual: conventional individual treatment (outpatient). Not standardized.

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
Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR) Change from baseline
Time Frame: 4 weeks after intervention group has completed group treatment
Experienced personal recovery is measured by self-report; 'Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR)
4 weeks after intervention group has completed group treatment
Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR) Change from baseline
Time Frame: 6 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Experienced personal recovery is measured by self-report; 'Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR)
6 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR) Change from baseline
Time Frame: 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Experienced personal recovery is measured by self-report; 'Questionnaire about Process of Recovery' (QPR)
12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment

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
The Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) change from baseline
Time Frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Functional impairment associated with mental Health measured by self-report
4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) change from baseline
Time Frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Self-report to capture elements of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)
4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
The Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10) change from baseline
Time Frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Sel-report measure of psychological distress, capturing general mental health issues.
4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
WHO Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) change from baseline
Time Frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Questionnaire assessing subjective psychological well-being and also a measure of depression.
4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Posttraumatic Cognition Inventory (PTCI-9) change from baseline
Time Frame: 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment
Self-report measure of negative and dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions
4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after intervention group has completed group treatment

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Use of health services in hospitals - Data extracted from The National Patient Register (NPR)- change from baseline
Time Frame: 12 months after group intervention
The National Patient Register (NPR) regularly receives data from all health authorities in Norway on treatment episodes in hospitals and mental health services. Data extracted will include type of clinical unit, time of admission, length of stay in inpatient units, consultations in outpatient units and mobile teams and diagnoses, measured 12 months before group intervention and 12 months after group intervention.
12 months after group intervention
Prescriptions of medicine -Data extracted from The Norwegian Prescription Database - change from baseline
Time Frame: 12 months after group intervention
The Norwegian Prescription Database regularly receives data on prescriptions on drug prescriptions from doctors in primary and secondary health care services and hospitals. Extracted data will cover prescriptions, 12 months before group intervention and 12 months after group intervention.
12 months after group intervention
Occupational status- Data extracted from The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV)- change from baseline
Time Frame: 12 months after group intervention
The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) have data on all citizens working status and sick-leaves lasting for more than two weeks. Extracted data will include information such as sick- and disability leaves 12 months before group intervention and 12 months after group intervention.
12 months after group intervention

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.
St. Olavs Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology

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.
  • Study Director: Anne-Lise Løvaas, St. Olavs Hospital

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.
March 25, 2019

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
June 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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, 2027

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).
March 11, 2019

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.
March 21, 2019

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.
March 25, 2019

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.
April 30, 2026

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.
April 24, 2026

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.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • 2018/957

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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