Integration of PE & Coping Long-Term With Active Suicide Program for PTSD & Suicide Risk in Military Families

Integration of Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Coping Long-Term With Active Suicide Program (CLASP) for PTSD and Suicide Risk in Military Families

The purpose of this study is to develop an innovative, safe, acceptable, feasible, and efficacious integrated CLASP-PE intervention and to Collect pilot data to evaluate the preliminary evidence of the promise of the intervention. We hypothesize that the CLASP-PE intervention will demonstrate safety, acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy in the open trial.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Suicidal Ideation; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: CLASP-PE arm

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 15
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ronald Acierno, PhD; Phone Number: (713) 486-2863; Email: Ronald.Acierno@uth.tmc.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Daniel J Murphy; Email: Daniel.J.Murphy@uth.tmc.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Recruiting
      • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
      • Contact: Ronald Acierno, PhD; Phone Number: 713-486-2863; Email: Ronald.Acierno@uth.tmc.edu
      • Contact: Daniel J Murphy; Phone Number: (713) 486-2841; Email: Daniel.J.Murphy@uth.tmc.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ability to read and write in English. This is essential in order to complete the informed consent, self-report questionnaires, and homework assignments for the study.
• Diagnosis of PTSD according to the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). This is essential for the aims of the study, which include primarily to demonstrate a reduction in PTSD-related distress and ultimately in suicidal behaviors and thoughts.
• Suicidal ideation (SI) with a plan and/or a history of suicide attempts (SA). This is essential for the aims of the study, which include primarily to demonstrate a reduction in suicidal behaviors and thoughts as well as in PTSD related distress.
• Active duty service member
• Willingness to sign a release of information to allow for continuous communication between research study staff and treatment providers or between the research study staff and external mental health providers in order to ensure that any important information between the patient and their care team can be shared openly between the participating center and research staff involved in the patients care or assessment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current psychotic or manic episode as indicated by the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview. While it is possible that the intervention may be effective in individuals with psychosis, the research community needs to demonstrate the overall success of the intervention before it is applied to specialized subgroups, like individuals with psychosis. The intervention may also be eventually useful for individuals with a bipolar illness(defined by the presence of manic episodes) but likely that would require stabilization of mania prior to intervention implementation. As such these individuals will be excluded from the current study, though should possibly be included in future research depending on the results of the study.
• Current substance use disorder, severe (in the past terminology "dependence") that would preclude the ability to focus on PTSD and suicide symptom reduction. As with key exclusion criterion above, it is possible that individuals with a principal substance use disorder diagnosis may benefit from the intervention. However, the research community needs to demonstrate the overall success of the intervention (including in individuals with comorbid, but not principal) substance use disorders before it is applied in those with a principal substance use disorder.
• Current alternative evidence-based PTSD or suicide-focused individual psychotherapy, including current individual weekly Prolonged Exposure, current individual weekly Cognitive Processing Therapy, and current individual Coping LongTerm with Active Suicide Program (CLASP). Active involvement in an evidence-based PTSD or suicide-focused therapy would preclude the ability to scientifically test the effect of the intervention.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: CLASP-PE arm

Behavioral: CLASP-PE arm; Participants will complete 8-16 weekly or twice weekly individual therapy sessions (with total session number determined by clinical need, as is typical in clinical trials of PE for PTSD), 1 therapy session (session 3) with a supportive significant other (SO), consistent with the CLASP protocol, and 11 brief (30 minute) phone calls as possible, with calls occurring every week in between therapy sessions and on a less frequent basis following treatment termination up to 3 months after the final in-person therapy session. In addition, the supportive SOs will complete 11 brief (30 minute) phone calls with the therapist at the same frequency as participants. Participants will sign a release of information prior to involving the supportive significant other in treatment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress syndrome(PTSD)as assessed by The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 (CAPS 5)	The CAPS 5 is a 30-item structured interview that can be used to make current (past month) diagnosis of PTSD, make lifetime diagnosis of PTSD, and assess PTSD symptoms over the past week.The CAPS-5 total score ranges from 0(absent) to 4(extreme/incapacitating)	Baseline
Number of participants with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress syndrome(PTSD)as assessed by The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 (CAPS 5)	The CAPS 5 is a 30-item structured interview that can be used to make current (past month) diagnosis of PTSD, make lifetime diagnosis of PTSD, and assess PTSD symptoms over the past week.The CAPS-5 total score ranges from 0(absent) to 4(extreme/incapacitating)	end of treatment (Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)
Number of participants with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress syndrome(PTSD)as assessed by The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 (CAPS 5)	The CAPS 5 is a 30-item structured interview that can be used to make current (past month) diagnosis of PTSD, make lifetime diagnosis of PTSD, and assess PTSD symptoms over the past week.The CPAS-5 total score ranges from 0(absent) to 4(extreme/incapacitating)	3 months post treatment
Number of participants with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress syndrome(PTSD)as assessed by The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 (CAPS 5)	The CAPS 5 is a 30-item structured interview that can be used to make current (past month) diagnosis of PTSD, make lifetime diagnosis of PTSD, and assess PTSD symptoms over the past week.The CPAS-5 total score ranges from 0(absent) to 4(extreme/incapacitating)	6 months post treatment
The extent to which participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms as assessed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessment.	The PCL-5 evaluates how much participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms in the past week (for all assessments during treatment) or the past month (all other assessment time points) as a result of a specific life event. Each item of the PCL-5 is scored on a five-point scale ranging from 0 "not at all") to 4 ("extremely).	Baseline
The extent to which participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms as assessed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessment.	The PCL-5 evaluates how much participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms in the past week (for all assessments during treatment) or the past month (all other assessment time points) as a result of a specific life event. Each item of the PCL-5 is scored on a five-point scale ranging from 0 "not at all") to 4 ("extremely).	before each session(participants will complete 8-16 weekly or twice weekly individual therapy sessions)
The extent to which participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms as assessed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessment.	The PCL-5 evaluates how much participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms in the past week (for all assessments during treatment) or the past month (all other assessment time points) as a result of a specific life event. Each item of the PCL-5 is scored on a five-point scale ranging from 0 "not at all") to 4 ("extremely).	end of treatment (Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)
The extent to which participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms as assessed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessment.	The PCL-5 evaluates how much participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms in the past week (for all assessments during treatment) or the past month (all other assessment time points) as a result of a specific life event. Each item of the PCL-5 is scored on a five-point scale ranging from 0 "not at all") to 4 ("extremely).	3 months post treatment
The extent to which participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms as assessed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessment.	The PCL-5 evaluates how much participants have been bothered by PTSD symptoms in the past week (for all assessments during treatment) or the past month (all other assessment time points) as a result of a specific life event. Each item of the PCL-5 is scored on a five-point scale ranging from 0 "not at all") to 4 ("extremely).	6 months post treatment
Number of patients with characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression as measured by the Black depression Inventory (BDI)	The BDI is a 21-item self-report rating inventory that is rated in a 4 point scale from 0-3 based in severity with a maximum score if 63.	Baseline
Number of patients with characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression as measured by the Black depression Inventory (BDI)	The BDI is a 21-item self-report rating inventory that is rated in a 4 point scale from 0-3 based in severity with a maximum score if 63.	before each session(participants will complete 8-16 weekly or twice weekly individual therapy sessions)
Number of patients with characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression as measured by the Black depression Inventory (BDI)	The BDI is a 21-item self-report rating inventory that is rated in a 4 point scale from 0-3 based in severity with a maximum score if 63.	end of treatment(Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)
Number of patients with characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression as measured by the Black depression Inventory (BDI)	The BDI is a 21-item self-report rating inventory that is rated in a 4 point scale from 0-3 based in severity with a maximum score if 63.	3 months post treatment
Number of patients with characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression as measured by the Black depression Inventory (BDI)	The BDI is a 21-item self-report rating inventory that is rated in a 4 point scale from 0-3 based in severity with a maximum score if 63.	6 months post treatment
Severity of depression as assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology (QIDS) The QIDS is a 16-item measure that is scored on a 4 point scale from 0-3 with a higher number indicating more severity of depression.		Baseline
Severity of depression as assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology (QIDS) The QIDS is a 16-item measure that is scored on a 4 point scale from 0-3 with a higher number indicating more severity of depression.		before every session(participants will complete 8-16 weekly or twice weekly individual therapy sessions)
Severity of depression as assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology (QIDS) The QIDS is a 16-item measure that is scored on a 4 point scale from 0-3 with a higher number indicating more severity of depression.		end of treatment (Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)
Severity of depression as assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology (QIDS) The QIDS is a 16-item measure that is scored on a 4 point scale from 0-3 with a higher number indicating more severity of depression.		3 months post treatment
Severity of depression as assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology (QIDS) The QIDS is a 16-item measure that is scored on a 4 point scale from 0-3 with a higher number indicating more severity of depression.		6 months post treatment
Intensity of attitudes, behaviors and plans to commit suicide over the prior week as assessed by the Beck Scale for Suicidal ideation(BSSI)	BSSI is a 21-item self-report measure that is scored on a 3 point scale from 0-2 with a higher number indicting a greater suicidal ideation	Baseline
Intensity of attitudes, behaviors and plans to commit suicide over the prior week as assessed by the Beck Scale for Suicidal ideation(BSSI)	BSSI is a 21-item self-report measure that is scored on a 3 point scale from 0-2 with a higher number indicting a greater suicidal ideation	end of treatment (Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)
Intensity of attitudes, behaviors and plans to commit suicide over the prior week as assessed by the Beck Scale for Suicidal ideation(BSSI)	BSSI is a 21-item self-report measure that is scored on a 3 point scale from 0-2 with a higher number indicting a greater suicidal ideation	3 months post treatment
Intensity of attitudes, behaviors and plans to commit suicide over the prior week as assessed by the Beck Scale for Suicidal ideation(BSSI)	BSSI is a 21-item self-report measure that is scored on a 3 point scale from 0-2 with a higher number indicting a greater suicidal ideation	6 months post treatment
Measure of suicidal ideation and behavior as assessed by the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)	The severity of ideation subscale is rated on a 5-point ordinal scale: 1 = wish to be dead, 2 = nonspecific active suicidal thoughts, 3 = suicidal thoughts with methods, 4 = suicidal intent, and 5 = suicidal intent with plan. The suicidal behavior subscale is rated on a nominal scale that includes actual, aborted, and interrupted attempts; preparatory behavior; and nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior.	Baseline
Measure of suicidal ideation and behavior as assessed by the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)	The severity of ideation subscale is rated on a 5-point ordinal scale: 1 = wish to be dead, 2 = nonspecific active suicidal thoughts, 3 = suicidal thoughts with methods, 4 = suicidal intent, and 5 = suicidal intent with plan. The suicidal behavior subscale is rated on a nominal scale that includes actual, aborted, and interrupted attempts; preparatory behavior; and nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior.	end of treatment (Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)
Measure of suicidal ideation and behavior as assessed by the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)	The severity of ideation subscale is rated on a 5-point ordinal scale: 1 = wish to be dead, 2 = nonspecific active suicidal thoughts, 3 = suicidal thoughts with methods, 4 = suicidal intent, and 5 = suicidal intent with plan. The suicidal behavior subscale is rated on a nominal scale that includes actual, aborted, and interrupted attempts; preparatory behavior; and nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior.	3 months post-treatment
Measure of suicidal ideation and behavior as assessed by the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)	The severity of ideation subscale is rated on a 5-point ordinal scale: 1 = wish to be dead, 2 = nonspecific active suicidal thoughts, 3 = suicidal thoughts with methods, 4 = suicidal intent, and 5 = suicidal intent with plan. The suicidal behavior subscale is rated on a nominal scale that includes actual, aborted, and interrupted attempts; preparatory behavior; and nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior.	6 months post-treatment
Number of patients with anxiety, mood, psychotic, substance, and eating disorders as assessed by the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)		Baseline
Extent to which client was satisfied with the training as assessed by the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)	The CSQ is an 8-item measure of client satisfaction rated on a 1-4 point Likert scale. A higher score indicates a higher satisfaction.	end of treatment (Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)
Feedback form participants as assessed by the Qualitative interview(QI) which will include a series of open ended questions aimed at eliciting feedback from participants about their perspective on the PE-CLASP Intervention		end of treatment (Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of potentially traumatic events in a respondent's lifetime as assessed by The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5).	The LEC-5 assesses exposure to 16 events known to potentially result in PTSD or distress and includes one additional item assessing any other extraordinarily stressful event not captured in the first 16 items. For each potentially traumatic life event, respondents rate their experience of that event on a 6-point nominal scale (1 = happened to me, 2 = witnessed it, 3 = learned about it, 4 = part of my job, 5 = not sure, and 6 = doesn't apply). The LEC-5 does not yield a total score or composite score.	Baseline
Number of potentially traumatic events in a respondent's lifetime as assessed by The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5).	The LEC-5 assesses exposure to 16 events known to potentially result in PTSD or distress and includes one additional item assessing any other extraordinarily stressful event not captured in the first 16 items. For each potentially traumatic life event, respondents rate their experience of that event on a 6-point nominal scale (1 = happened to me, 2 = witnessed it, 3 = learned about it, 4 = part of my job, 5 = not sure, and 6 = doesn't apply). The LEC-5 does not yield a total score or composite score.	end of treatment (Upto 16 weeks from start of treatment)
Number of potentially traumatic events in a respondent's lifetime as assessed by The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5).	The LEC-5 assesses exposure to 16 events known to potentially result in PTSD or distress and includes one additional item assessing any other extraordinarily stressful event not captured in the first 16 items. For each potentially traumatic life event, respondents rate their experience of that event on a 6-point nominal scale (1 = happened to me, 2 = witnessed it, 3 = learned about it, 4 = part of my job, 5 = not sure, and 6 = doesn't apply). The LEC-5 does not yield a total score or composite score.	3 months post treatment
Number of potentially traumatic events in a respondent's lifetime as assessed by The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5).	The LEC-5 assesses exposure to 16 events known to potentially result in PTSD or distress and includes one additional item assessing any other extraordinarily stressful event not captured in the first 16 items. For each potentially traumatic life event, respondents rate their experience of that event on a 6-point nominal scale (1 = happened to me, 2 = witnessed it, 3 = learned about it, 4 = part of my job, 5 = not sure, and 6 = doesn't apply). The LEC-5 does not yield a total score or composite score.	6 months post treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ronald Acierno, PhD, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 2, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): September 2, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 2, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 20, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): February 25, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 1, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 31, 2022
• Last Verified: October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: depression
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Self-Injurious Behavior; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Suicide; Suicidal Ideation
• Other Study ID Numbers: HSC-MS-19-1067

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