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Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderNCT00183430

Prazosin for Treating Noncombat Trauma Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

A study testing Prazosin and Psychotherapy in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, run by Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research at 1 site in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of prazosin in treating post-traumatic stress disorder caused by noncombat trauma in individuals taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Prazosin and Psychotherapy
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Oct 2003to Dec 2010
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) diagnosis of PTSD, as derived from the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS)
  • Stabilized on any necessary medications for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry
  • Score of greater than 4 on the CAPS Recurrent Distressing Dreams item (maximum score of 8)
  • Score of greater than 4 on the CAPS Difficulty Falling or Staying Asleep item (maximum score of 8)
  • Agrees to use an effective form of contraception throughout the study

Who cannot join

  • Any acute or significant chronic medical illness
  • Any unstable medical condition
  • Unstable angina, recent heart attack, history of congestive heart failure, pre-existing hypotension (systolic blood pressure less than 110 mm Hg), or orthostatic hypotension
  • Insulin-dependent diabetes
  • Chronic kidney or liver failure
  • Pancreatitis or gout
Show all 16Show fewer
  • Meniere's disease, benign positional vertigo, or narcolepsy
  • Allergy or previous adverse reaction to prazosin or other alpha-1 antagonist
  • Currently taking another alpha-1 antagonist agent
  • Pregnant
  • DSM-IV diagnosis of cognitive disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or other psychotic disorder
  • Current delirium
  • Active substance dependence disorder within 3 months of study entry
  • Current substance use other than alcohol (no more than 2 drinks per day)
  • Severe psychiatric instability or situational life crises, including evidence of suicidal or homicidal ideation
  • Currently taking any other psychotropic medication (e.g., antidepressants, benzodiazepines, anti-convulsants, anti-psychotics, sedating antihistamines, sedatives/hypnotics (exclusionary medications will be discontinued and participants will undergo a 2-week washout period before baseline assessments)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • VA Puget Sound Health Care System

    Seattle, Washington, 98108

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Prazosin for Noncombat Trauma PTSD

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of prazosin in treating post-traumatic stress disorder caused by noncombat trauma in individuals taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Read the detailed description

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. People with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their past ordeal and often feel emotionally numb, especially with people to whom they were once close. PTSD was first recognized in male combat veterans. Today, however, the majority of people who have PTSD are young women who have experienced non combat-related trauma, such as sexual or physical assault or a life-threatening illness or accident. The disorder can be short-lived, but PTSD can also become chronic, with long lasting symptoms that are often treatment-resistant, possibly causing severe functional disability. Frequent trauma-related nightmares and other debilitating sleep disruptions are examples of chronic PTSD symptoms for which an effective treatment has not been developed. Sertraline and paroxetine, both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are the only drugs approved by the FDA for treating PTSD. Neither of them, however, has been effective in reducing PTSD-related sleep disruption. Studies have shown that the drug prazosin has been effective in reducing distressing trauma-related nightmares in older male combat veterans. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of prazosin in treating post-traumatic stress disorder caused by noncombat trauma in individuals already being treated with SSRIs.

Participants in this double-blind study will first undergo 12 weeks of treatment with psychotherapy and a standard SSRI. After 12 weeks, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either prazosin or placebo in addition to psychotherapy and standard SSRI treatment for a total of 8 weeks. Study visits will occur weekly for the first 12 weeks, and then at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 during the 8-week phase. Additionally, follow-up visits will be held 4 and 18 weeks post-intervention. PTSD symptoms, disorder severity, and frequency of sleep disturbances will be assessed.

Being tested
Prazosin, Placebo, Psychotherapy
Keywords
Prazosin, Sleep Disorders
Medical subject headings
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Sleep Wake Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PrazosinDrug

    Also called Minipress

    Prazosin capsules 1 to 25 mg are taken orally twice per day in divided doses at 10 am and bedtime.

  • PlaceboDrug

    Placebo capsules are taken orally twice per day at 10 am and bedtime.

  • PsychotherapyBehavioural

    All participants will undergo psychotherapy during medication treatment period.

Study groups in NCT00183430
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1ExperimentalParticipants will receive treatment with prazosin plus psychotherapy
Receives: Drug: Prazosin; Behavioral: Psychotherapy
2Placebo comparatorParticipants will receive treatment with placebo plus psychotherapy
Receives: Drug: Placebo; Behavioral: Psychotherapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Clinical Global Impression of Change

    The Clinical Global Impression of Change is a 7-point scale that rates global change compared to baseline (1=markedly improved, 2=moderately improved, 3=minimally improved, 4=no change, 5=minimally worse, 6=moderately worse, 7=markedly worse). The Clinical Global Impression of Change is used to determine the impact of treatment effects on meaningful and distinct change in overall sense of well-being and functioning. This outcome measure evaluates change from Baseline to Week 8.

    Measured: Baseline to Week 8

  2. Change in Recurring Distressing Dreams and Difficulty Falling and Staying Asleep Items of the CAPS

    Item B-2 "recurrent distressing dreams of the event" is a single item from teh Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). The rating consists of two parts: Frequency plus Intensity. Symptom frequency rated 0 to 4. Symptom intensity rated 0 to 4. Frequency plus Intensity ratings equal the total score. The total minimum score = zero. The total maximum score = 8. A higher score is worse; a lower score is better. This outcome measure evaluates the change in score from Baseline to Week 8.

    Measured: Baseline to Week 8

  3. Change in Sleep Assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

    Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index is a self-report questionnaire assessing sleep quality and disturbances over a 1-month time interval. A global score is obtained by summing the seven component subscales (total score range: 0-21). A score of 5 or less indicates good sleep quality. A score of more than 5 indicates poor sleep quality. Change is measured from Baseline to Week 8.

    Measured: Baseline to Week 8

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Sep 2005 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2003
  3. Primary completionMay 2009
  4. Study completionDec 2010

Why it stopped: Insufficient Enrollment

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00183430
Sponsor's protocol ID
R01MH069867
Other IDs
R01MH069867, DATR AD-TS
Status last verified
Jun 2018
First submitted
13 Sep 2005
Last updated
14 Jun 2018
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Raskind MA, Peskind ER, Kanter ED, Petrie EC, Radant A, Thompson CE, Dobie DJ, Hoff D, Rein RJ, Straits-Troster K, Thomas RG, McFall MM. Reduction of nightmares and other PTSD symptoms in combat veterans by prazosin: a placebo-controlled study. Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Feb;160(2):371-3. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.2.371.

    PubMed 12562588
  • Raskind MA, Thompson C, Petrie EC, Dobie DJ, Rein RJ, Hoff DJ, McFall ME, Peskind ER. Prazosin reduces nightmares in combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002 Jul;63(7):565-8. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v63n0705.

    PubMed 12143911
  • Raskind MA, Dobie DJ, Kanter ED, Petrie EC, Thompson CE, Peskind ER. The alpha1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin ameliorates combat trauma nightmares in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a report of 4 cases. J Clin Psychiatry. 2000 Feb;61(2):129-33. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v61n0208.

    PubMed 10732660
  • Peskind ER, Bonner LT, Hoff DJ, Raskind MA. Prazosin reduces trauma-related nightmares in older men with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2003 Sep;16(3):165-71. doi: 10.1177/0891988703256050.

    PubMed 12967060
  • Taylor FB, Martin P, Thompson C, Williams J, Mellman TA, Gross C, Peskind ER, Raskind MA. Prazosin effects on objective sleep measures and clinical symptoms in civilian trauma posttraumatic stress disorder: a placebo-controlled study. Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Mar 15;63(6):629-32. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.07.001. Epub 2007 Sep 14.

    PubMed 17868655
  • Raskind MA, Peskind ER, Hoff DJ, Hart KL, Holmes HA, Warren D, Shofer J, O'Connell J, Taylor F, Gross C, Rohde K, McFall ME. A parallel group placebo controlled study of prazosin for trauma nightmares and sleep disturbance in combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Apr 15;61(8):928-34. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.06.032. Epub 2006 Oct 25.

    PubMed 17069768

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Prazosin and Psychotherapy in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, run by Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 16 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jun 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 27 Nov 2012). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Clinical Global Impression of Change (time frame: Baseline to Week 8). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00183430, which also lists 6 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Jun 2018.

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