Identification of Markers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Relapse

June 15, 2026 updated by: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice

Early Diagnosis of Risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Relapse in Children and Their Families

Relapse of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains challenging. In addition, factors predicting PTSD relapse are still unknown. The aim of this study is to examine whether clinical and neuropsychological changes (e.g., attentional bias toward aversive cues) that characterized PTSD can be observed in people with past PTSD (children and their families) and whether these persistent changes are predictive of PTSD relapse.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

One of the great challenges in Psychotraumatology is the high risk (20-40%) of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relapse, which markers remain understudied. Identification of these markers is of particular interest for the development of strategies to prevent relapse. Based on clinical and experimental data, it appears that (i) the so-called residual clinical symptoms (such as sleep disturbance, irritability) and (ii) the neuropsychological dysfunctions (cognitive difficulties), persisting after remission, may constitute markers of PTSD relapse. Moreover, all of these potential markers have also been linked with dysfunctions, persisting or reoccurring, in the prefrontal cortex after remission.

The main objective of this study is to identify these clinical and neuropsychological markers of PTSD relapse in children and their families. The secondary objective is to demonstrate the link between prefrontal dysfunctions and relapse.

This longitudinal study will include 4 experimental groups:

  • 30 children with PTSD
  • 30 children with past PTSD (children in remission)
  • 30 parents of children with PTSD
  • 30 parents of children with past PTSD The first visit is planned during the symptomatic phase (T0). The second visit (T1) is planned at the end of the symptomatic phase (or 6 months later T0). The last visit is planned 3-months after T1.

The psychological assessment will include:

A structured interview with a psychiatrist An assessment of PTSD symptoms (IES-R, CPTS-RI for children) An assessment of the co-morbidity (STAI C and CDI for children, STAI A-B, BDI for adults).

An evaluation of the social life (EAS for children and SAS-SR for adults).

The neuropsychological assessment will include:

An evaluation of the attentional treatment (Go-No / go and visual search) An evaluation of executive functions (TMT A and B) A brief evaluation of the IQ (items memory of figures, matrix and resemblance) An evaluation of the memory (Grober and Buschke) Tests include an adult and children versions that are validated. All studies will be conducted at the Nice University Hospital, Tours University Hospital and Toulouse University Hospital.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

6

Phase

  • 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

  • France
      • Nice, France, 06000
        • CHU de Nice
      • Nice, France, 06000
        • Fondation Lenval
      • Toulouse, France, 31059
        • CHU de Toulouse
      • Tours, France, 37044
        • Chu De Tours

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

Ages Eligible for Study

9 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

For children

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children (9/18 years)
  • Patients who have lived a traumatic event (physical assault and road accident) and who have a PTSD.
  • French speaker.
  • Participants must sign the informed consent and they must be affiliated to the social insurance.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Children who have a neurological pathology.
  • Children who have brain damage or brain-injured
  • Subject having participated in a biomedical research in three months preceding the inclusion

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: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: In remission phase of PTSD
Patients having suffered from PTSD in the past and in remission od PTSD and their parents
Behavioral: Neuropsychological assessment

A clinical evaluation with Impact of Events Scale-Revised, Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Children Depression Inventory and Emotion, activity and sociability.

A neuropsychological assessment with a emotional Go-No/Go, a visual search task, the Trail Making Test, 3 items of the WISC III ( and the Grober and Buschke Test.
Other: Activ PTSD
patients suffering from PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and their parents
Behavioral: Neuropsychological assessment

A clinical evaluation with Impact of Events Scale-Revised, Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Children Depression Inventory and Emotion, activity and sociability.

A neuropsychological assessment with a emotional Go-No/Go, a visual search task, the Trail Making Test, 3 items of the WISC III ( and the Grober and Buschke Test.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Attentional score
Time Frame: baseline at the first visit (T0), at 6 months, at 9 months
Go-No/Go and visual search tests
baseline at the first visit (T0), at 6 months, at 9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
memory (Grober and Buschke)
Time Frame: baseline at the first visit (T0), at 6 months, at 9 months
Grober and Buschke memory tests
baseline at the first visit (T0), at 6 months, at 9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Michel BENOIT, M.D.,PhD, Psychiatrie, Hôpital Pasteur, CHU de NICE
  • Principal Investigator: Wissam EL HAGE, M.D, PhD, Psychiatrie, CHU de TOURS
  • Principal Investigator: Frédérique JOVER, M.D., CAP, Hôpital St Roch, CHU de NICE
  • Principal Investigator: Florence ASKENAZY, M.D., Fondation Lenval, NICE
  • Principal Investigator: Philippe BIRMES, M.D., Psychiatrie, CHU de TOULOUSE
  • Principal Investigator: Virginie BUISSE, M.D., CAP, Hôpital St Roch, CHU de NICE

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)

October 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 10, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

December 30, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 8, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 1, 2012

First Posted (Estimated)

March 6, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 15, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 11-AOI-09

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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