Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptom Study

Longitudinal Evaluation of Chronic Combat-Related PTSD

The primary goals for this investigation are to quantify: (1) fluctuations in PTSD symptom reports when assessed at bi-weekly intervals; (2) change in PTSD symptoms associated with stressful life events; and (3) change in PTSD symptoms associated with perceived social support.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: PTSD

Detailed Description

The primary goals for this investigation are to quantify: (1) fluctuations in PTSD symptom reports when assessed at bi-weekly intervals; (2) change in PTSD symptoms associated with stressful life events; and (3) change in PTSD symptoms associated with perceived social support.

Despite increased sophistication in measurement of PTSD, little is known about the long-term longitudinal course of this disorder or the fluctuation of symptoms over time. Because previous studies have focused on the development and persistence of symptoms immediately following a stressor, the course of the chronic disorder has been largely unexplored. Although there is evidence of both persistence and fluctuation of PTSD symptom presentation in Vietnam veterans, little is known about how much and in what ways symptoms change over time. This investigation will increase understanding of the nature and extent of symptom fluctuation as well as the longitudinal course of PTSD as first steps in determining which variables affect that course and how clinicians might intervene to alter it.

Aversive life events may constitute one factor that influences the course of chronic PTSD. Researchers and clinicians have frequently hypothesized that stressful life events account for much of the variability in course of chronic PTSD; individuals with PTSD may have a compromised ability to cope with stressors, and such events may worsen existing symptoms. Social support is another variable thought to affect the course of post-trauma symptomatology. Support from other persons has been shown to both promote psychological health in general and to protect against psychological deterioration in times of stress. This investigation will examine aversive life events and perceived social support to determine their relationships over time to symptoms of PTSD.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 57

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02130
      • VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Vietnam combat veterans

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Vietnam vets who served in combat
2. Diagnosis of current or lifetime PTSD

Excluded if severe psychosis, current diagnosis of acute substance dependence, if no stable residence in past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

Actively psychosis, currently suicidal or homicidal, without telephone access, or had experienced substance or alcohol abuse or dependence within the previous six months.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Bi-weekly telephone calls; 34 participants received bi-weekly telephone calls in addition to the annual reviews
Annual review only; 23 participants received annual reviews only

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
PTSD Checklist - Military Version	The PTSD Checklist-Military Version is a self-report questionnaire comprising 17 items corresponding to the 17 DSM-IV symptoms for PTSD. Respondents are instructed to specify the extent to which they have been bothered by each symptom during the past month on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 - not at all to 5 = extremely. Weathers et al. (1993) reported a full scale internal consistency reliability (coefficient alpha) for the PCL-M of .97 and test-retest reliability (2- to 3-day interval) of .96.	For past two weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Doron-LaMarca S, Niles BL, King DW, King LA, Pless Kaiser A, Lyons MJ. Temporal Associations Among Chronic PTSD Symptoms in U.S. Combat Veterans. J Trauma Stress. 2015 Oct;28(5):410-7. doi: 10.1002/jts.22039. Epub 2015 Sep 14.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2000
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2004
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 3, 2001
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 4, 2001
• First Posted (Estimate): July 5, 2001

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 19, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 17, 2018
• Last Verified: September 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Combat-Related PTSD, Vietnam Veterans
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Other Study ID Numbers: MHBS-001-99F

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No