Early Intervention to Prevent Development of PTSD in Burn Survivors and Their Caregivers

June 14, 2026 updated by: University of Southern California
The purpose of this clinical trial is to adapt and test a brief patient-caregiver early intervention designed to reduce posttraumatic stress symptoms in hospitalized burn patients and their caregivers. This intervention is a brief, 4-session cognitive-behavioral intervention designed for burn patients and their loved one to complete together, during and after hospitalization. The intervention targets relational communication and functioning through reduction of invalidating, negative statements and avoidant coping by teaching patients and their loved ones to engage in adaptive natural disclosures, supportive responses, and approach coping after the burn trauma. The intervention uses evidence-based psychotherapy techniques, including psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, and skills coaching. The clinical trial will occur in two sequential phases. In the first phase of the study (case series), the intervention will be provided to two burn patient-caregiver dyads (four adults) to pilot test the intervention, seek patient and provider feedback, and refine the intervention. All four adults will receive the intervention. In the second phase of the study, the randomized controlled trial (RCT) phase, investigators will enroll 20 more burn patient-caregiver dyads (40 more adults) who will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) at the dyad level to receive the intervention or a burn survivor-only minimally enhanced usual care psychoeducation control condition (mEUC). The goals of the RCT phase are to study whether the intervention is acceptable to patients, feasible to conduct, and whether the intervention improves burn survivor-caregiver healthy relationship communication about difficult events and treatment outcomes compared to mEUC.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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.

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.
44

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 Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
        • University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine & Los Angeles General Medical Center
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Alert, oriented, & not withdrawing from substance at time of screening
  • Can read and write in English
  • Hospitalized within 10 days of burn injury
  • Anticipated discharge <=4 weeks
  • Have an email, mailing address, and at least 1 smart device for telehealth sessions
  • PTSD risk score of 2 or greater (patient-only)
  • Willing to attend therapy sessions with a loved one

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Currently incarcerated or in police custody
  • > 10 days post-burn
  • Lifetime diagnosis of primary psychosis or intellectual disability
  • Ongoing reported domestic violence in the dyad
  • Unstable bipolar disorder, severe substance use disorder, or acute suicidality with imminent intent that does not remit within 10 days of burn-injury
  • Inflammation Confounds (patient-only) of BMI > 40, metabolic syndrome, admission A1C of >= 6.5%
  • Currently receiving couples therapy

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

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: Promotion of Emotional Disclosure for Burns (PoED-B)
Participants randomized into this arm will receive Promotion of Emotional Disclosure for Burns (PoED-B), a cognitive behavioral therapy intervention designed for burn survivors and a loved one of their choosing to complete together. The standard treatment length will be 4 sessions, however participants and providers may agree to additional sessions as warranted.
Behavioral: Promotion of Emotional Disclosure for Burns (PoED-B)
PoED-B is a dyadic treatment where both patient and identified informal caregiver participate. PoED-B targets reducing disclosure-constraining behaviors (e.g., invalidating, negative statements) using psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, and skills training. The goal is to encourage the patient-caregiver dyad to engage in natural disclosures, supportive responses, and approach coping after the burn trauma to facilitate emotional processing. It is four sessions long. Delivery format takes into account stakeholder feedback, considering overall burden during acute hospitalization and the transition to outpatient care. Sessions one and two are 30 minutes and one week apart. Sessions three and four are 50 minutes long and two weeks apart. Session one must occur during hospitalization. Sessions 2-4 can be completed via video/telehealth if the patient is discharged during the treatment course.
Active Comparator: minimally Enhanced Usual Care control (mEUC)
Participants randomized into this arm will receive a minimally enhanced version of usual burn care. This will include one, 30-minute supportive therapy session focused on psychoeducation about the potential psychological impact of burn injury and hospitalization and referral to outpatient resources, if wanted.
Behavioral: minimally Enhanced Usual Care control (mEUC)
mEUC is an individually-administered psychoeducation control for burn patients modeled after minimally enhanced care in acute care surgery units. In one 30-minute session, the therapist reviews with the participant a standardized psychoeducation handout on common psychological reactions after burn injury, giving them time to ask questions or express concerns within a supportive therapy framework. Then, the participant is given the handout, which also includes self-help skills. After study completion, participants will be given referrals for outpatient mental health services.

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
Social Constraints Scale
Time Frame: Before treatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
The Social Constraints Scale is a self-report scale administered to both the patient and caregiver. It is designed to assess perceptions of negative reactions to trauma-disclosures. The scale contains 15 items, and each item is scored on a four-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 4 (often) with total scores ranging from 15 to 60. A higher score indicates a higher frequency of experiencing social constraints.
Before treatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
Feasibility of Recruitment
Time Frame: baseline
Proportion of participants who agree to participate from the total number of those that are eligible and approached.
baseline
Feasibility of Data Collection
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of study assessments at 6-weeks posttreament
Proportion of participants who completed each and all assessment timepoints
From enrollment to the end of study assessments at 6-weeks posttreament
Acceptability: Satisfaction with Treatment
Time Frame: Immediately after ending treatment
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) - Self-Report - The CSQ has 8 items assessing client satisfaction with the treatment they have received. Total scores range from 8-32; higher scores indicate greater client satisfaction/treatment acceptability. This measure will be completed by both patients and their loved ones.
Immediately after ending treatment
Acceptabilitly: Retention
Time Frame: Immediately after ending treatment
Proportion of enrolled dyads who completed at least 3 out of 4 PoED sessions.
Immediately after ending treatment
Acceptability: Global Improvement Rating
Time Frame: Immediately after ending treatment
Proportion of participants who report overall improvement on the Global Rating of Change Scale
Immediately after ending 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
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
Time Frame: Pretreatment, Immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 is a 20 item self-report measure assessing PTSD symptom severity. Total scores range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating more severe PTSD symptoms.
Pretreatment, Immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)
Time Frame: Immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 is a structured interview measure of PTSD symptom severity (frequency and intensity) in the past month. Scores can range from 0-80, with higher scores indicating worse symptom severity. Only burn patients will complete this measure, not caregivers.
Immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time Frame: Pretreatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale is a 14-item self-report measure of anxiety and depression symptoms that was designed for the hospital environment. Each subscale has 7-items answered on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3, yielding a maximum possible score of 21 for each subscale. Higher scores indicate worse symptoms.
Pretreatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
MINI Montreal International Neuropsychiatric Interview v. 7.0.2 (MINI)
Time Frame: Pretreatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
The MINI is a brief (~15 minutes) structured psychodiagnostic interview for assessing DSM-5 disorders.
Pretreatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
Dyadic Relationship Scale (DRS)
Time Frame: Pretreatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
The Dyadic Relationship Scale is a self-report survey measuring dyadic strain and positive dyadic interaction specific to patient's health. There is a 10-item patient-version and 11-item caregiver version. Dyadic strain subscale scores range from 0-12 (patient version) and 0-15 (caregiver version). Positive dyadic interaction subscale scores range from 0-18. Higher scores on each of these scales indicate higher levels of strain and positive interaction, respectively.
Pretreatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
Significant Other's Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS)
Time Frame: Pretreatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up
The Significant Other's Responses to Trauma Scale is a 14-item self-report measure assessing frequency & intensity of caregiver PTSD accommodation behaviors. Total scores can range from 0-112 with higher scores indicating greater accommodation.
Pretreatment, immediately after ending treatment, 6-week follow-up

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.
University of Southern California

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.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Los Angeles General Medical Center

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: Sarah Stoycos, PhD, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine

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 (Estimated)

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.
August 1, 2026

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.
December 31, 2028

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.
February 28, 2029

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).
June 3, 2026

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.
June 14, 2026

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.
June 18, 2026

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.
June 18, 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.
June 14, 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.
June 1, 2026

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.
  • HS-25-00383
  • 1K23MH141296-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified demographic and raw quantitative data will be deposited into the NIMH Data Archive (NDA). All data will be de-identified prior to receipt by the repository. Data will be de-identified pursuant to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 CFR § 164.514(b). A brief study protocol will also be submitted to NDA and will be made freely available.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will be deposited starting 18 months after the award begins and will be deposited every six months thereafter following the usual NDA data submission dates. Data generated from this project will be made available as soon as possible, and no later than the time of publication or the end of the funding period, whichever comes first. The duration of preservation and sharing of the data is controlled by the NDA; NDA currently has no process for deleting or retiring datasets, and thus far no data has been removed to our knowledge.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

To request access to the data, researchers can use the standard processes at NDA; the NDA Data Access Committee will review requests and decide which requests to grant. The standard NDA access process allows access for one year and is renewable thereafter.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

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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