Post-Traumatic Stress DisordersPhase 2NCT03605342
Optimal Treatment of Veterans With PTSD and Comorbid OUD
A Phase 2 study testing Buprenorphine, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Individual Drug Counseling (IDC) in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders and Opiate Use Disorder, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The objective of this study is to test a standard psychotherapy for PTSD in Veterans who also suffer from Opiate Use Disorder (OUD). Specifically, this study will test whether Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)-C is more effective in treating PTSD, compared to a control group (Individual Drug Counseling (IDC); which… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Opiate Use Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Buprenorphine, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Individual Drug Counseling (IDC)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 38 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2018to 14 Apr 2023
- Phase
- Phase 2
- 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 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Current diagnosis of PTSD as determined by an independent evaluator assessment using CAPS-5.
- Opioid Use Disorder diagnosed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-V)
- To meet entry criteria for buprenorphine treatment:
- will also have documented prior treatment for opioid use disorder
- history of opioid withdrawal or signs of opiate withdrawal as evidenced by a Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) score of 7 or greater
- a positive urine toxicology for opioids
Show all 12Show fewer
- Medically and neurologically healthy on the basis of:
- history
- physical examination
- EKG
- screening blood tests (CBC w/ differential, Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Free-T4, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, total protein, albumin, electrolytes, urinalysis, urine toxicology, beta-HCG)
- For women, negative pregnancy test and use of acceptable method of contraception
Who cannot join
- Females who are pregnant or lactating
- Veterans with a current unstable medical condition such as:
- neurological
- cardiovascular
- endocrine
- renal
Show all 11Show fewer
- liver
- or thyroid pathology (e.g. abnormal BUN and creatinine, and unmanaged hypertension with BP > 200/120) which in the opinion of the physician would preclude the patient from fully cooperating or be of potential harm during the course of the study
- Veterans who meet current criteria for the following diagnoses (bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorders) as determined by the SCID-V
- Veterans who have significant current suicidal or homicidal risks necessitating a higher level of care
- Those with known allergy or intolerance to buprenorphine
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA
Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730
VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
West Haven, Connecticut, 06516-2770
About this study
Official title: Optimal Treatment of Veterans With PTSD and Comorbid Opiate Use Disorder (OUD)
The objective of this study is to test a standard psychotherapy for PTSD in Veterans who also suffer from Opiate Use Disorder (OUD). Specifically, this study will test whether Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)-C is more effective in treating PTSD, compared to a control group (Individual Drug Counseling (IDC); which approximates treatment as usual), among Veterans with PTSD and comorbid OUD who are maintained on buprenorphine.
The study has three phases. In Phase I: induction to buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NLX) maintenance. Phase II: treatment. During this phase participants will be randomly assigned to CPT-C or IDC for 12 weeks. They will be seen weekly for psychotherapy and also regularly (weekly, then biweekly, then monthly) for buprenorphine management, symptom evaluation, and medication refill. After completing treatment participants will be referred to a buprenorphine clinic for ongoing care. Phase III: follow-up.
Approximately 160 male and female Veterans (18-65 years old) with PTSD and comorbid opiate use disorder (OUD) will be enrolled in this study. Recruitment will be through VA clinics, word-of-mouth, referrals from area programs and by advertisement. Veterans who are interested will complete a brief pre-screening and detailed in-person screening. After completing the screening process, all eligible participants will be started on buprenorphine maintenance and once withdrawal symptoms are stabilized, participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions (CPT-C or IDC) for 12 weeks. Veterans who are already on BUP/NLX will be allowed to participate and will start at Phase II of the study, after completing the screening.
Read the detailed description
The purpose of this study is to test whether Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT-C) is more effective than Individual Drug Counseling (IDC), which is standard counseling, for the treatment of PTSD among Veterans with PTSD and comorbid opioid use disorder who are also maintained on buprenorphine. The investigators propose to conduct a randomized, controlled trial and Veterans (n=160) diagnosed with PTSD and comorbid OUD will be randomized to one of 2 groups: (a) buprenorphine and CPT-C or (b) buprenorphine and IDC (treatment as usual).
Primary Aim 1:.To test whether CPT-C is more effective than IDC in treating symptoms of PTSD among Veterans with OUD maintained on buprenorphine. PTSD symptoms will be measured using the PTSD Checklist - Military version (PCL-5) and confirmed by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria (CAPS-5).
Secondary Aim 1: To test whether CPT-C is more effective than IDC in reducing opioid use among Veterans with PTSD and comorbid OUD maintained on buprenorphine. Opioid use will be measured using the Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) and confirmed by urine toxicology results.
Exploratory Aims: To examine if treatment groups differ in 1) retention, measured by days in treatment, 2) psychosocial functioning, measured by the Veterans RAND 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (VR-12), 3) sleep as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), since sleep disturbance is a hallmark of PTSD and during early abstinence from opioids, and 4) Because of the high comorbidity between PTSD and chronic pain the investigators will explore this relationship and will measure pain intensity (measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and functional impairment using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) longitudinally over the course of treatment. Follow up will be conducted 1 and 3 months after completion of the study to evaluate durability of effect on PTSD symptoms (measured as changes in PTSD symptoms), opioid use and treatment utilization.
This study will be a randomized, open-label clinical trial. The study has three phases. In Phase I: induction to buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NLX) maintenance. Phase II: treatment. During this phase participants will be randomly assigned to CPT-C or IDC for 12 weeks. They will be seen weekly for psychotherapy and also regularly (weekly, then biweekly, then monthly) for buprenorphine management, symptom evaluation, and medication refill. After completing treatment participants will be referred to a buprenorphine clinic for ongoing care. Phase III: follow-up.
Approximately 160 male and female Veterans (18-65 years old) with PTSD and comorbid opiate use disorder (OUD) will be enrolled in this study. Recruitment will be through VA clinics, word-of-mouth, referrals from area programs and by advertisement. Veterans who are interested will complete a brief pre-screening and detailed in-person screening (including: consent, lab work, interview with clinician including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5), medical and psychiatric history). After completing the screening process, all eligible participants will be started on buprenorphine maintenance and once withdrawal symptoms are stabilized, participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions (CPT-C or IDC) for 12 weeks. Veterans who are already on BUP/NLX will be allowed to participate and will start at Phase II of the study, after completing the screening. The investigators will use mixed effects models to assess changes in PTSD symptoms and opiate use over time. Treatments will be used as between-subject factors and time (in weeks) will be used as a within-subject factor. The primary outcome variables will be PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5 and CAPS scales. The secondary outcome variables will be frequency of opiate use generated from the TLFB and confirmed with urine toxicology results at each medication visit (weeks 1-4, 6,8, 12) and follow-up.
Potential benefits of participation in this study may include a reduction in PTSD symptoms. However, there is no guarantee or promise that participants will receive any benefit from participation in this study.
Since 11 September 2001, more than 1.5 million Service Members have deployed more than 2 million times in support of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. One of the signature injuries from these operations is PTSD. Various reports of the post-deployment health-related needs estimated that 20% of Veterans returning from deployment will have symptoms of PTSD or related behavioral health conditions. In addition, the prescription opioid epidemic has seriously affected Veterans, and Veterans with PTSD are more likely to abuse opioids and to have high-risk behaviors. Nevertheless, treating comorbid PTSD and OUD has not been systematically tested. This study proposes to test an evidence based psychotherapy for PTSD vs. individual drug counseling in Veterans given opioid maintenance treatment who have both PTSD and OUD.
- Being tested
- Buprenorphine, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Individual Drug Counseling (IDC)
- Keywords
- PTSD, Opiate Use Disorder
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
BuprenorphineDrug
Participants will be started at a dose of 2mg/0.5 mg BUP/NLX and this dose will be increased as needed for stabilization of opioid withdrawal symptoms up to 24 mg per day, which is standard practice.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)Behavioural
CPT-C is a manualized, 12-session 1:1 cognitive therapy that has been designed for patients with PTSD. In this study the sessions will be conducted weekly. CPT-C uses Socratic questioning targeting distorted cognitions such as self-blame, hindsight bias, and other guilt cognitions. CPT-C is focused on the cognitive components of the therapy without exposure.
Individual Drug Counseling (IDC)Behavioural
IDC will serve as the control group. The current standard of treatment for Veterans entering buprenorphine maintenance is to do drug counseling. Standard counseling is the primary means to achieve goals. IDC uses a semi-structured, time-limited addictions-counseling model in a 1:1 setting. The IDC manual provides an organized, concise version of what is currently practiced by most addiction counselors.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine + CPT-C | Active comparator | Buprenorphine induction and stabilization for all participants (x1 week). Participants will be started at a dose of 2mg/0.5 mg BUP/NLX and this dose will be increased as needed for stabilization of opioid withdrawal symptoms up to 24 mg per day, then CPT-C for 12 weeks. Receives: Drug: Buprenorphine; Behavioral: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) |
| Buprenorphine + IDC | Active comparator | Buprenorphine induction and stabilization for all participants (x1 week). Participants will be started at a dose of 2mg/0.5 mg BUP/NLX and this dose will be increased as needed for stabilization of opioid withdrawal symptoms up to 24 mg per day, then IDC for 12 weeks Receives: Drug: Buprenorphine; Behavioral: Individual Drug Counseling (IDC) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5)
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (CAPS-5) is a structured diagnostic interview. The scale also assesses social and occupational functioning, dissociation symptoms, and the validity of symptom reports. The CAPS-5 uses a single 5-point ordinal rating scale to measure symptom severity. Symptom severity ratings combine information about symptom frequency and intensity obtained by the interviewer. The CAPS-5 requires approximately 40 minutes to administer.
Scores can range from 0 (minimum score) - 80 (maximum score) with higher scores indicating greater severity. (0-19=Asymptomatic/few symptoms very mild PTSD, 20-39=Sub-threshold/mild PTSD, 40-59=Threshold PTSD/moderate PTSD, 60-79=Severe PTSD, 80=Extreme PTSD)
Measured: Baseline
PTSD Checklist - Military Version (PCL-5) Total Score
PCL-5 will be used to collect information on PTSD symptoms. The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure, selected for its dimensional sensitivity, with higher scores reflecting greater PTSD severity. Scoring is based on how much the patient has been bothered by the symptoms on a scale from "0 = not at all" to "4 = extremely." Items are summed to provide a total severity score (range 0-80). PCL-5 score between 31-33 is indicative of PTSD.
Measured: Baseline
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5)
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (CAPS-5) is a structured diagnostic interview. The scale also assesses social and occupational functioning, dissociation symptoms, and the validity of symptom reports. The CAPS-5 uses a single 5-point ordinal rating scale to measure symptom severity. Symptom severity ratings combine information about symptom frequency and intensity obtained by the interviewer. The CAPS-5 requires approximately 40 minutes to administer.
Scores can range from 0 (minimum score) - 80 (maximum score) with higher scores indicating greater severity. (0-19=Asymptomatic/few symptoms very mild PTSD, 20-39=Sub-threshold/mild PTSD, 40-59=Threshold PTSD/moderate PTSD, 60-79=Severe PTSD, 80=Extreme PTSD)
Measured: Week 12
PTSD Checklist - Military Version (PCL-5) Total Score
PCL-5 will be used to collect information on PTSD symptoms. The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure, selected for its dimensional sensitivity, with higher scores reflecting greater PTSD severity. Scoring is based on how much the patient has been bothered by the symptoms on a scale from "0 = not at all" to "4 = extremely." Items are summed to provide a total severity score (range 0-80). PCL-5 score between 31-33 is indicative of PTSD.
Measured: Week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Jul 2018
- Study start1 Oct 2018
- Primary completion14 Apr 2023
- Study completion14 Apr 2023
Why it stopped: Early termination
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Post-Traumatic Stress DisordersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by VA Office of Research and DevelopmentThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study is a 14-week, open-label randomization: 1) buprenorphine (BUP) + CPT-C vs (2) BUP + IDC. Phase I: buprenorphine induction and stabilization for all participants. Participants starting dose 2mg/0.5 mg BUP/NLX this will increase as needed up to 24 mg per day. Phase II: randomization to CPT vs. IDC (x12 weeks). Phase III: Subjects will be referred to one of the buprenorphine clinics and will be referred for ongoing treatment for PTSD if they choose, including the option for CPT-C for those who did not receive this during the study. Participants will be seen on a daily basis (excluding weekends) for the initial 5-7 day induction. Once subjects are on maintenance dose of BUP/NLX, they will be seen weekly by study Registered Nurse (RN) for the first 4 weeks, biweekly for a month then monthly for symptom evaluation, and medication refill.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Sponsor type
- US federal agency
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Ismene L. Petrakis, MD, Principal investigator, VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03605342
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MHBB-010-17F
- Status last verified
- Aug 2024
- First submitted
- 29 Jun 2018
- Last updated
- 19 Aug 2024
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Petrakis IL, Meshberg-Cohen S, Nich C, Kelly MM, Claudio T, Jane JS, Pisani E, Ralevski E. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) versus individual drug counseling (IDC) for PTSD for veterans with opioid use disorder maintained on buprenorphine. Am J Addict. 2024 Sep;33(5):525-533. doi: 10.1111/ajad.13557. Epub 2024 Apr 16.
PubMed 38624259
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Aug 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Optimal Treatment of Veterans With PTSD and Comorbid Opiate Use Disorder (OUD)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03605342
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MHBB-010-17F
- Keywords
- PTSD, Opiate Use Disorder
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- TerminatedReason stopped: Early termination
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and DevelopmentUS federal agency
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 14 Apr 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 30 Jul 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 19 Aug 2024
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The objective of this study is to test a standard psychotherapy for PTSD in Veterans who also suffer from Opiate Use Disorder (OUD). Specifically, this study will test whether Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)-C is more effective in treating PTSD, compared to a control group (Individual Drug Counseling (IDC); which approximates treatment as usual), among Veterans with PTSD and comorbid OUD who are maintained on buprenorphine.
The study has three phases. In Phase I: induction to buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NLX) maintenance. Phase II: treatment. During this phase participants will be randomly assigned to CPT-C or IDC for 12 weeks. They will be seen weekly for psychotherapy and also regularly (weekly, then biweekly, then monthly) for buprenorphine management, symptom evaluation, and medication refill. After completing treatment participants will be referred to a buprenorphine clinic for ongoing care. Phase III: follow-up.
Approximately 160 male and female Veterans (18-65 years old) with PTSD and comorbid opiate use disorder (OUD) will be enrolled in this study. Recruitment will be through VA clinics, word-of-mouth, referrals from area programs and by advertisement. Veterans who are interested will complete a brief pre-screening and detailed in-person screening. After completing the screening process, all eligible participants will be started on buprenorphine maintenance and once withdrawal symptoms are stabilized, participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions (CPT-C or IDC) for 12 weeks. Veterans who are already on BUP/NLX will be allowed to participate and will start at Phase II of the study, after completing the screening.
Detailed description
The purpose of this study is to test whether Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT-C) is more effective than Individual Drug Counseling (IDC), which is standard counseling, for the treatment of PTSD among Veterans with PTSD and comorbid opioid use disorder who are also maintained on buprenorphine. The investigators propose to conduct a randomized, controlled trial and Veterans (n=160) diagnosed with PTSD and comorbid OUD will be randomized to one of 2 groups: (a) buprenorphine and CPT-C or (b) buprenorphine and IDC (treatment as usual).
Primary Aim 1:.To test whether CPT-C is more effective than IDC in treating symptoms of PTSD among Veterans with OUD maintained on buprenorphine. PTSD symptoms will be measured using the PTSD Checklist - Military version (PCL-5) and confirmed by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria (CAPS-5).
Secondary Aim 1: To test whether CPT-C is more effective than IDC in reducing opioid use among Veterans with PTSD and comorbid OUD maintained on buprenorphine. Opioid use will be measured using the Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) and confirmed by urine toxicology results.
Exploratory Aims: To examine if treatment groups differ in 1) retention, measured by days in treatment, 2) psychosocial functioning, measured by the Veterans RAND 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (VR-12), 3) sleep as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), since sleep disturbance is a hallmark of PTSD and during early abstinence from opioids, and 4) Because of the high comorbidity between PTSD and chronic pain the investigators will explore this relationship and will measure pain intensity (measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and functional impairment using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) longitudinally over the course of treatment. Follow up will be conducted 1 and 3 months after completion of the study to evaluate durability of effect on PTSD symptoms (measured as changes in PTSD symptoms), opioid use and treatment utilization.
This study will be a randomized, open-label clinical trial. The study has three phases. In Phase I: induction to buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NLX) maintenance. Phase II: treatment. During this phase participants will be randomly assigned to CPT-C or IDC for 12 weeks. They will be seen weekly for psychotherapy and also regularly (weekly, then biweekly, then monthly) for buprenorphine management, symptom evaluation, and medication refill. After completing treatment participants will be referred to a buprenorphine clinic for ongoing care. Phase III: follow-up.
Approximately 160 male and female Veterans (18-65 years old) with PTSD and comorbid opiate use disorder (OUD) will be enrolled in this study. Recruitment will be through VA clinics, word-of-mouth, referrals from area programs and by advertisement. Veterans who are interested will complete a brief pre-screening and detailed in-person screening (including: consent, lab work, interview with clinician including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5), medical and psychiatric history). After completing the screening process, all eligible participants will be started on buprenorphine maintenance and once withdrawal symptoms are stabilized, participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions (CPT-C or IDC) for 12 weeks. Veterans who are already on BUP/NLX will be allowed to participate and will start at Phase II of the study, after completing the screening. The investigators will use mixed effects models to assess changes in PTSD symptoms and opiate use over time. Treatments will be used as between-subject factors and time (in weeks) will be used as a within-subject factor. The primary outcome variables will be PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5 and CAPS scales. The secondary outcome variables will be frequency of opiate use generated from the TLFB and confirmed with urine toxicology results at each medication visit (weeks 1-4, 6,8, 12) and follow-up.
Potential benefits of participation in this study may include a reduction in PTSD symptoms. However, there is no guarantee or promise that participants will receive any benefit from participation in this study.
Since 11 September 2001, more than 1.5 million Service Members have deployed more than 2 million times in support of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. One of the signature injuries from these operations is PTSD. Various reports of the post-deployment health-related needs estimated that 20% of Veterans returning from deployment will have symptoms of PTSD or related behavioral health conditions. In addition, the prescription opioid epidemic has seriously affected Veterans, and Veterans with PTSD are more likely to abuse opioids and to have high-risk behaviors. Nevertheless, treating comorbid PTSD and OUD has not been systematically tested. This study proposes to test an evidence based psychotherapy for PTSD vs. individual drug counseling in Veterans given opioid maintenance treatment who have both PTSD and OUD.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study is a 14-week, open-label randomization: 1) buprenorphine (BUP) + CPT-C vs (2) BUP + IDC. Phase I: buprenorphine induction and stabilization for all participants. Participants starting dose 2mg/0.5 mg BUP/NLX this will increase as needed up to 24 mg per day. Phase II: randomization to CPT vs. IDC (x12 weeks). Phase III: Subjects will be referred to one of the buprenorphine clinics and will be referred for ongoing treatment for PTSD if they choose, including the option for CPT-C for those who did not receive this during the study. Participants will be seen on a daily basis (excluding weekends) for the initial 5-7 day induction. Once subjects are on maintenance dose of BUP/NLX, they will be seen weekly by study Registered Nurse (RN) for the first 4 weeks, biweekly for a month then monthly for symptom evaluation, and medication refill.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine + CPT-C | Active comparator | Drug: Buprenorphine, Behavioral: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)Buprenorphine induction and stabilization for all participants (x1 week). Participants will be started at a dose of 2mg/0.5 mg BUP/NLX and this dose will be increased as needed for stabilization of opioid withdrawal symptoms up to 24 mg per day, then CPT-C for 12 weeks. |
| Buprenorphine + IDC | Active comparator | Drug: Buprenorphine, Behavioral: Individual Drug Counseling (IDC)Buprenorphine induction and stabilization for all participants (x1 week). Participants will be started at a dose of 2mg/0.5 mg BUP/NLX and this dose will be increased as needed for stabilization of opioid withdrawal symptoms up to 24 mg per day, then IDC for 12 weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Current diagnosis of PTSD as determined by an independent evaluator assessment using CAPS-5.
- Opioid Use Disorder diagnosed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-V)
- Medically and neurologically healthy on the basis of:
- For women, negative pregnancy test and use of acceptable method of contraception
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Females who are pregnant or lactating
- Veterans with a current unstable medical condition such as:
- Veterans who meet current criteria for the following diagnoses (bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorders) as determined by the SCID-V
- Veterans who have significant current suicidal or homicidal risks necessitating a higher level of care
- Those with known allergy or intolerance to buprenorphine
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| BuprenorphineParticipants will be started at a dose of 2mg/0.5 mg BUP/NLX and this dose will be increased as needed for stabilization of opioid withdrawal symptoms up to 24 mg per day, which is standard practice. | Drug | Buprenorphine + CPT-C, Buprenorphine + IDC |
| Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)CPT-C is a manualized, 12-session 1:1 cognitive therapy that has been designed for patients with PTSD. In this study the sessions will be conducted weekly. CPT-C uses Socratic questioning targeting distorted cognitions such as self-blame, hindsight bias, and other guilt cognitions. CPT-C is focused on the cognitive components of the therapy without exposure. | Behavioural | Buprenorphine + CPT-C |
| Individual Drug Counseling (IDC)IDC will serve as the control group. The current standard of treatment for Veterans entering buprenorphine maintenance is to do drug counseling. Standard counseling is the primary means to achieve goals. IDC uses a semi-structured, time-limited addictions-counseling model in a 1:1 setting. The IDC manual provides an organized, concise version of what is currently practiced by most addiction counselors. | Behavioural | Buprenorphine + IDC |
Primary outcome
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5)
Time frame: Baseline
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (CAPS-5) is a structured diagnostic interview. The scale also assesses social and occupational functioning, dissociation symptoms, and the validity of symptom reports. The CAPS-5 uses a single 5-point ordinal rating scale to measure symptom severity. Symptom severity ratings combine information about symptom frequency and intensity obtained by the interviewer. The CAPS-5 requires approximately 40 minutes to administer. Scores can range from 0 (minimum score) - 80 (maximum score) with higher scores indicating greater severity. (0-19=Asymptomatic/few symptoms very mild PTSD, 20-39=Sub-threshold/mild PTSD, 40-59=Threshold PTSD/moderate PTSD, 60-79=Severe PTSD, 80=Extreme PTSD)
PTSD Checklist - Military Version (PCL-5) Total Score
Time frame: Baseline
PCL-5 will be used to collect information on PTSD symptoms. The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure, selected for its dimensional sensitivity, with higher scores reflecting greater PTSD severity. Scoring is based on how much the patient has been bothered by the symptoms on a scale from "0 = not at all" to "4 = extremely." Items are summed to provide a total severity score (range 0-80). PCL-5 score between 31-33 is indicative of PTSD.
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5)
Time frame: Week 12
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (CAPS-5) is a structured diagnostic interview. The scale also assesses social and occupational functioning, dissociation symptoms, and the validity of symptom reports. The CAPS-5 uses a single 5-point ordinal rating scale to measure symptom severity. Symptom severity ratings combine information about symptom frequency and intensity obtained by the interviewer. The CAPS-5 requires approximately 40 minutes to administer. Scores can range from 0 (minimum score) - 80 (maximum score) with higher scores indicating greater severity. (0-19=Asymptomatic/few symptoms very mild PTSD, 20-39=Sub-threshold/mild PTSD, 40-59=Threshold PTSD/moderate PTSD, 60-79=Severe PTSD, 80=Extreme PTSD)
PTSD Checklist - Military Version (PCL-5) Total Score
Time frame: Week 12
PCL-5 will be used to collect information on PTSD symptoms. The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure, selected for its dimensional sensitivity, with higher scores reflecting greater PTSD severity. Scoring is based on how much the patient has been bothered by the symptoms on a scale from "0 = not at all" to "4 = extremely." Items are summed to provide a total severity score (range 0-80). PCL-5 score between 31-33 is indicative of PTSD.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Aug 2024.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Results publication: PubMed 38624259Petrakis IL, Meshberg-Cohen S, Nich C, Kelly MM, Claudio T, Jane JS, Pisani E, Ralevski E. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) versus individual drug counseling (IDC) for PTSD for veterans with opioid use disorder maintained on buprenorphine. Am J Addict. 2024 Sep;33(5):525-533. doi: 10.1111/ajad.13557. Epub 2024 Apr 16.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ismene L. Petrakis, MD principal investigator
VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Buprenorphine, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Individual Drug Counseling (IDC) in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders and Opiate Use Disorder, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 2 sites 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 12 inclusion and 11 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 19 Aug 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites 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. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 19 Aug 2024). 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?
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 4 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 NCT03605342, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 19 Aug 2024.