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The Many Roads to Trauma Recovery: A Clinical Trial Comparing Empirically Supported Treatments for Veterans With Co-Morbid Posttraumatic Stress and Substance Use Disorder Symptoms

7 de agosto de 2026 actualizado por: Alexander Puhalla, Coatesville VA Medical Center
Veterans with co-morbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) are at substantial risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular diseases that often lead to premature death, with some evidence that they may die over 10 years earlier than their counterparts. As such, determining ways to improve their health outcomes is vital. Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRVB) may be one way to restore autonomic balance and teach veterans with PTSD / SUDs how to respond differently to their symptoms. Multiple studies have found that HRVB not only improves autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation / flexibility among veterans with PTSD, but also reduces PTSD symptoms. Additionally, there is evidence that HRVB reduces cravings and SUD symptoms. Currently it is proposed that the improvement in the PTSD and SUD symptoms are due to a combination of improving ANS regulation and veterans utilizing the HRVB techniques as coping strategies for their symptoms. Yet, none of these studies examined how HRVB versus other active interventions differentially effected symptoms and physiological outcomes. It may be useful to examine HRVB to other active interventions . The current project proposes to alleviate this gap by examining the effects of HRVB to one a active control condition (i.e., Present Centered Psychotherapy; PCT) among 50-residential veterans engaging in PTSD residential programming. Veterans will be recruited from residential programs at the Coatesville VAMC and screened for probable PTSD and an active (i.e., past year) SUD. If eligible, they will attend a brief visit that will include being randomized, engaging in a diagnostic interview, a battery of questionnaires related to PTSD / SUDs, attached to physiology equipment, and then complete 3 tasks (i.e., baseline task, emotion induction, and HRVB or Self-Compassion Break). Upon task completion, all veterans will be screened for risk and begin one of the conditions. Similar research procedures will be conducted after their final session. This study would provide evidence for the real-world effectiveness of HRVB compared to a control condition among one of the highest risk populations treated at the VA, which may provide invaluable insight into active mind-body treatments for veterans with PTSD / SUD.

Descripción general del estudio

Estado

Reclutamiento

Condiciones

Intervención / Tratamiento

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Estimado)

50

Fase

  • Fase 2
  • Fase 3

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

  • Nombre: Alexander A Puhalla, Ph.D.
  • Número de teléfono: x2848 610-384-7711
  • Correo electrónico: alexander.puhalla@va.gov

Ubicaciones de estudio

  • Estados Unidos
    • Pennsylvania
      • Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Estados Unidos, 19320
        • Reclutamiento
        • Coatesville VA Medical Center
        • Contacto:

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

  • Adulto
  • Adulto Mayor

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

No

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  • PTSD diagnosis
  • Enrolled in VA healthcare
  • Attending residential programming at CVAMC
  • Current substance use difficulty based on screening questions

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Non-English speaking
  • Inability to complete study procedures
  • Lack competency to provide consent
  • Acute intoxication of a substance
  • Active psychotic symptoms at the study visit
  • Suicidal or homicidal ideation with intent and planning
  • Pacemaker or other cardiovascular implants.

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Tratamiento
  • Asignación: Aleatorizado
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
  • Enmascaramiento: Ninguno (etiqueta abierta)

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Experimental: Trauma Informed Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (T-HRVB)
HRVB is a specific intervention that increases HRV by finding the optimal breathing frequency that will synchronize with HR oscillations (i.e., between 4 to 7 breaths per minute), increase the amount and intensity of HR variation while engaging in the biofeedback, and overtime improve HRV and overall functioning by activating both the vagus nerve and baroreceptor during practice. T-HRVB is a six session flexible protocol that integrates active trauma informed psychotherapy into HRVB, as well as scaffolds breathing skills based on the needs of population and encourages the use of these skills as active coping skills (Puhalla et al., 2026). Additionally, active psychotherapy skills are utilized throughout to bolster a sense of agency and engagement with the techniques.
Conductual: Trauma Informed Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback
please see description in the arm of the study for details.
Comparador activo: Present Centered Therapy (PCT)
The PCT condition will be the study's control condition where veterans will engage in six sessions. While PCT has shown some effect on improving PTSD symptoms, , it is generally a non-specific therapeutic modality where the therapist provides support and validation for the patient and encouragement towards their goal of stress reduction. In accordance with the study, six sessions will be provided with the psychoeducation on PTSD and the homework sheet being provided in session one since an intake has already occurred with their non-research provider.
Conductual: Present Centered Therapy
please see description in the arm of the study for details.

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 Revised
Periodo de tiempo: The CAPS-5-R is conducted at the pre and post treatment visit, which typically will occur during the 1st week of treatment and the last. However, due to scheduling needs may occur a prior (pre) or following (post) week.
The CAPS-5-R is the newest version of the CAPS-5, which is a structured diagnostic interview for PTSD based on the PTSD criteria in the DSM-5. All 20 symptoms of PTSD are assessed in relation to a patient's index event, which is then rated on a zero to ten severity scale with qualitative and quantitative indicators for each level of severity. Throughout the assessment symptoms that are less trauma specific include a prompt to determine if the symptom is related to the index event. The CAPS-5-R will be the studies primary outcome variable for PTSD symptom severity.
The CAPS-5-R is conducted at the pre and post treatment visit, which typically will occur during the 1st week of treatment and the last. However, due to scheduling needs may occur a prior (pre) or following (post) week.
Heart Rate (HR)
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the primary outcome being the baseline measures of the variable.
Heart Rate will be utilized as the study's primary measure of overall autonomic arousal.
Assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the primary outcome being the baseline measures of the variable.
Respiratory Sinus Arrythmia
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the primary outcome being the baseline measures of the variable.
To determine parasympathetic activity, the R-spike to R-spike interval will go through a Fourier transformation and the amount of power that occurs in the high frequency range (0.15-0.04 Hz) will be used as our measure of vagal mediated parasympathetic activity, also known as RSA.
Assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the primary outcome being the baseline measures of the variable.
Skin Conductance Level
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the primary outcome being the baseline measures of the variable.
Resting Skin Conductance Level may be used as proxy of sympathetic activity at rest, which is collected through a skin conductance monitor on the participants palm / fingers.
Assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the primary outcome being the baseline measures of the variable.

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
PTSD Symptom Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5)
Periodo de tiempo: Provided at the pre and post treatment visit, which typically will occur during the 1st week of treatment and the last. However, due to scheduling needs may occur a prior (pre) or following (post) week.
The PCL-5 is 20-item self-report questionnaire that assesses each symptom of PTSD on a 5-point Likert Scale. The PCL-5 will be used to assess for PTSD symptom severity
Provided at the pre and post treatment visit, which typically will occur during the 1st week of treatment and the last. However, due to scheduling needs may occur a prior (pre) or following (post) week.
Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (Rmssd)
Periodo de tiempo: Rmssd will be assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the baseline measure being a primary outcome at both timepoints.
Rmssd is a time-domain measure of vagal mediated parasympathetic activity that is determined by calculating the root mean square of successive differences within a heart beat to heart beat interval (R to R interval). It is commonly used as a proxy for parasmypathetic activity or regulation.
Rmssd will be assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the baseline measure being a primary outcome at both timepoints.
Standard Deviation between Normal to Nrmal intervals (SDNN).
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the primary outcome being the baseline measures of the variable.
SDNN is a time domain HRV measure that acts as a proxy for overall autonomic nervous system activity and health, with greater levels usually indicative of greater health.
Assessed at the pre and post treatment visits, with the primary outcome being the baseline measures of the variable.

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Patrocinador

Coatesville VA Medical Center

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Estimado)

1 de agosto de 2026

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

1 de agosto de 2029

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

1 de agosto de 2030

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

7 de agosto de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

7 de agosto de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

11 de agosto de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

11 de agosto de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

7 de agosto de 2026

Última verificación

1 de agosto de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Palabras clave

Términos MeSH relevantes adicionales

Otros números de identificación del estudio

  • 1882489

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

NO

Descripción del plan IPD

Directly states within the consent form that the data would not be shared outside of the research team due to the high sensitivity of the data being collected.

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .

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