Posttraumatic Stress DisorderPhase 4SSRINCT04183205
Predicting SSRI Efficacy in Veterans With PTSD
A Phase 4 study testing LDAEP and sertraline in people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
This is a research study to examine the effectiveness of a brief screening method that may predict which people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression are most likely to show a positive response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder
- What is being tested?
- LDAEP and sertraline
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 19 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 Sep 2019to 31 Mar 2025
- Phase
- Phase 4
- 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 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- has a history of trauma exposure as defined by criterion A of PTSD in the DSM-5
- meets diagnostic criteria for PTSD, subthreshold PTSD, or MDD as defined by DSM-5
- study psychiatrist's judgment that SSRIs are an acceptable treatment option for the participant's presenting concerns, and
- interest in starting a trial of an SSRI
Who cannot join
- current or past history of bipolar I disorder, schizophrenic or other psychotic disorders
- current organic brain disorder including severe traumatic brain injury, factitious disorder, or malingering
- pregnancy
- major neurological problems
- current moderate or severe substance use disorder
- active risk to self or others
Show all 17Show fewer
- evidence of clinically significant hepatic or renal disease or any other acute or unstable medical condition that might interfere with safe conduct of the study
- intolerance or hypersensitivity to sertraline
- failed past trial of sertraline (confirmed by medical record review)
- use of drugs that directly affect the serotonin system (e.g., SNRIs, antipsychotics) within 3 months of the study
- use of an SSRI within 3 months of the study. Use of other psychotropic medications must have been stable for 3 months prior to enrollment and remain stable throughout participation
- hearing impairment for 780 Hz tones
- current enrollment in trauma-focused psychotherapy
- for those participants who currently have a non-VA or VA psychiatrist or primary care provider who is willing to prescribe medications, they must be willing to sign a release of information (ROI) for study staff to communicate with their providers and the provider believes that including the participant in the study is potentially appropriate.
- As discussed above, the investigators will inform the participant that the investigators will share the following information with their current relevant care provider:
- information about the design of the study, inclusion and exclusion criteria, the participant's psychiatric and medical diagnoses as well as illness severity, as assessed in the screening evaluation, and any history of safety issues such as risk to self or others.
- If the participant doesn't sign a release of release of information (ROI) to contact the provider, the participant will not be entered into the active study.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
Boston, Massachusetts, 02130-4817
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
Charleston, South Carolina, 29401-5703
About this study
Official title: An Electrophysiological Predictor of SSRI Response in Veterans With PTSD
This is a research study to examine the effectiveness of a brief screening method that may predict which people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression are most likely to show a positive response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications. Participants will be recruited over approximately 5.25 years, until at least 94 participants complete the 17 week study.
Read the detailed description
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed to approximately 60% of Veterans with PTSD treated within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). However, many patients are not responsive to SSRIs. Currently, there is no way to determine whether a particular patient will benefit from an SSRI; treatment is primarily accomplished through 'trial and error' over several weeks or months. The overarching goal of this study is to investigate the pre-treatment usefulness of a simple electrophysiological test for predicting the likelihood of a favorable response to an SSRI. This study will investigate whether a brief pre-treatment auditory event-related potentials procedure [referred to going forward as "Loudness Dependence of Auditory Evoked Potentials" (LDAEP)] offers a means for predicting treatment response to an SSRI for men and women diagnosed with PTSD or depression.
This study has four aims: 1) To determine the strength of the relationship between LDAEP and clinical response to SSRI treatment. 2) To determine LDAEP cut-off values that would enable clinicians to make individualized SSRI treatment recommendations. 3) To assess the usefulness of change in LDAEP as an objective measure of SSRI response. 4) Exploratory: To determine whether the relationship between LDAEP and clinical response to sertraline differs between men and women.
Means to Protect Subjects' Identities:
To ensure confidentiality, questionnaire and interview data will be stored in locked filing cabinets within locked offices. Each participant will have his or her own participant number and these numbers will be the only means by which participant information can be identified. Electronic data will be stored on a secure private, password-protected drive that can only be accessed by members of the study team and labeled only with the participant number. One list of names and participant numbers will be kept on a private, password-protected computer account on a separate drive from the de-identified data and accessible only to the study team.
ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS IN RESEARCH NOT FUNDED BY NIH Description Of Identification Of Drug: SERTRALINE. Because the goal of this study is to identify pre-treatment predictors of SSRI response that ultimately could be used in routine clinical care, the investigators designed the study with ecological validity in mind. Specifically, the investigators chose sertraline as the study medication because it is: a) the most commonly prescribed SSRI in the US, b) one of only two FDA-approved drugs for treating PTSD, and c) one of the two most effective SSRIs for major depression, a common comorbidity with PTSD. Dosing will follow clinical practice guidelines, i.e., doses will be chosen based on clinical response and tolerability.
Description Of Administration Of Drug: The investigators are using an approach , which represents enhanced clinical care in that participants discuss medication levels, side effects, and symptoms with a psychiatrist every two weeks. Study medication and placebo will be stored and distributed by VA Boston Pharmacy service.
- Being tested
- LDAEP, Placebo, sertraline
- Keywords
- Treatment, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI), loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials, Electrophysiology, Depression
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Depressive Disorder, Major, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
LDAEPDiagnostic test
This is an ERP task in which participants hear a series of tones ranging from 74dB to 104dB and electrophysiological activity is measured throughout. For each participant average P2 scores are derived for the 74dB tones, 84dB tones, 94dB tones, and 104dB tones. Then, LDAEP is defined as the slope of these average P2 scores.
PlaceboDrug
placebo pills of the same size, color and taste as the active drug will be administered
sertralineDrug
Also called zoloft
Sertraline is an FDA approved SSRI for treatment of PTSD.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo only arm | Placebo comparator | For individuals who are placebo responders during the 2 week placebo lead in phase, they will remain on placebo for the duration of the study (i.e., the 12 weeks where the placebo non-responders are taking sertraline). Receives: Diagnostic Test: LDAEP; Drug: Placebo |
| Sertraline arm | Active comparator | After the 2-week placebo lead-in phase, placebo-non responders will receive sertraline 25 mg daily for 2 weeks. Thereafter, sertraline will be increased flexibly by 25 to 50 mg per day (at a rate no higher than 50 mg per week) to achieve a total daily dose of 50 to 200 mg, based on clinical response and tolerability, with a maximum dose of 200 mg/d. Subjects unable to tolerate higher doses may be dropped back to the previous dose and remain at that dose for the remainder of the study. Receives: Diagnostic Test: LDAEP; Drug: Placebo; Drug: sertraline |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the PZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Measured: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the CZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Measured: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the FZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Measured: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the PZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Measured: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the CZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Measured: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
Secondary outcomes (11)
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the PZ Site)
The QIDS-SR was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. The QIDS provides equivalent weightings (0-3) for each symptom item, gives clearly stated anchors that estimate the frequency and severity of symptoms, and includes all items required to diagnose a major depressive episode. The range for the total QIDS-SR severity score is 0-42, with higher scores indicating worse depression severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the CZ Site)
The QIDS-SR was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. The QIDS provides equivalent weightings (0-3) for each symptom item, gives clearly stated anchors that estimate the frequency and severity of symptoms, and includes all items required to diagnose a major depressive episode. The range for the total QIDS-SR severity score is 0-42, with higher scores indicating worse depression severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the FZ Site)
The QIDS-SR was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. The QIDS provides equivalent weightings (0-3) for each symptom item, gives clearly stated anchors that estimate the frequency and severity of symptoms, and includes all items required to diagnose a major depressive episode. The range for the total QIDS-SR severity score is 0-42, with higher scores indicating worse depression severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the CZ Site)
The QIDS-SR was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. The QIDS provides equivalent weightings (0-3) for each symptom item, gives clearly stated anchors that estimate the frequency and severity of symptoms, and includes all items required to diagnose a major depressive episode. The range for the total QIDS-SR severity score is 0-42, with higher scores indicating worse depression severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the PZ Site)
The QIDS-SR was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. The QIDS provides equivalent weightings (0-3) for each symptom item, gives clearly stated anchors that estimate the frequency and severity of symptoms, and includes all items required to diagnose a major depressive episode. The range for the total QIDS-SR severity score is 0-42, with higher scores indicating worse depression severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the FZ Site)
The PCL-5 is a 20-item measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD, anchored to participants' worst traumatic event. The PCL-5 was administered bi-weekly at each psychiatrist check-in visit. Participants rated how much they experienced each symptom on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0 = "not at all" to 4 = "extremely") during the past week (total range=0-80). Higher scores indicate greater PTSD severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the CZ Site)
The PCL-5 is a 20-item measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD, anchored to participants' worst traumatic event. The PCL-5 was administered bi-weekly at each psychiatrist check-in visit. Participants rated how much they experienced each symptom on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0 = "not at all" to 4 = "extremely") during the past week (total range=0-80). Higher scores indicate greater PTSD severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the PZ Site)
The PCL-5 is a 20-item measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD, anchored to participants' worst traumatic event. The PCL-5 was administered bi-weekly at each psychiatrist check-in visit. Participants rated how much they experienced each symptom on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0 = "not at all" to 4 = "extremely") during the past week (total range=0-80). Higher scores indicate greater PTSD severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the FZ Site)
The PCL-5 is a 20-item measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD, anchored to participants' worst traumatic event. The PCL-5 was administered bi-weekly at each psychiatrist check-in visit. Participants rated how much they experienced each symptom on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0 = "not at all" to 4 = "extremely") during the past week (total range=0-80). Higher scores indicate greater PTSD severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the CZ Site)
The PCL-5 is a 20-item measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD, anchored to participants' worst traumatic event. The PCL-5 was administered bi-weekly at each psychiatrist check-in visit. Participants rated how much they experienced each symptom on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0 = "not at all" to 4 = "extremely") during the past week (total range=0-80). Higher scores indicate greater PTSD severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the PZ Site)
The PCL-5 is a 20-item measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD, anchored to participants' worst traumatic event. The PCL-5 was administered bi-weekly at each psychiatrist check-in visit. Participants rated how much they experienced each symptom on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0 = "not at all" to 4 = "extremely") during the past week (total range=0-80). Higher scores indicate greater PTSD severity.
Measured: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Dec 2019
- Study start11 Sep 2019
- Primary completion30 Mar 2025
- Study completion31 Mar 2025
Why it stopped: difficulty meeting recruitment goals
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.
- Other trials for Posttraumatic Stress DisorderStudies 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 4
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Model description
- All eligible participants will first undergo a 2 week placebo lead in. Following this 2 week period, placebo responders will remain on placebo. All other participants will begin a 12 week sertraline trial.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 19 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Sponsor type
- US federal agency
- Collaborators
- Middlebury College, Massachusetts General Hospital, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Suzanne Pineles, PhD, Principal investigator, VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04183205
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MHBB-028-17F
- Acronym
- SSRI
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Nov 2019
- Last updated
- 17 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: A de-identified, anonymized dataset will be created and shared after study completion.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Electrophysiological Predictor of SSRI Response in Veterans With PTSD
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04183205
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SSRI / MHBB-028-17F
- Keywords
- Treatment, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI), loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials, Electrophysiology, Depression
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- TerminatedReason stopped: difficulty meeting recruitment goals
- Enrolment
- 19 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and DevelopmentUS federal agency
- Collaborators
- Middlebury College, Massachusetts General Hospital, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study start
- 11 Sep 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Dec 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 22 May 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This is a research study to examine the effectiveness of a brief screening method that may predict which people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression are most likely to show a positive response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications. Participants will be recruited over approximately 5.25 years, until at least 94 participants complete the 17 week study.
Detailed description
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed to approximately 60% of Veterans with PTSD treated within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). However, many patients are not responsive to SSRIs. Currently, there is no way to determine whether a particular patient will benefit from an SSRI; treatment is primarily accomplished through 'trial and error' over several weeks or months. The overarching goal of this study is to investigate the pre-treatment usefulness of a simple electrophysiological test for predicting the likelihood of a favorable response to an SSRI. This study will investigate whether a brief pre-treatment auditory event-related potentials procedure [referred to going forward as "Loudness Dependence of Auditory Evoked Potentials" (LDAEP)] offers a means for predicting treatment response to an SSRI for men and women diagnosed with PTSD or depression.
This study has four aims: 1) To determine the strength of the relationship between LDAEP and clinical response to SSRI treatment. 2) To determine LDAEP cut-off values that would enable clinicians to make individualized SSRI treatment recommendations. 3) To assess the usefulness of change in LDAEP as an objective measure of SSRI response. 4) Exploratory: To determine whether the relationship between LDAEP and clinical response to sertraline differs between men and women.
Means to Protect Subjects' Identities:
To ensure confidentiality, questionnaire and interview data will be stored in locked filing cabinets within locked offices. Each participant will have his or her own participant number and these numbers will be the only means by which participant information can be identified. Electronic data will be stored on a secure private, password-protected drive that can only be accessed by members of the study team and labeled only with the participant number. One list of names and participant numbers will be kept on a private, password-protected computer account on a separate drive from the de-identified data and accessible only to the study team.
ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS IN RESEARCH NOT FUNDED BY NIH Description Of Identification Of Drug: SERTRALINE. Because the goal of this study is to identify pre-treatment predictors of SSRI response that ultimately could be used in routine clinical care, the investigators designed the study with ecological validity in mind. Specifically, the investigators chose sertraline as the study medication because it is: a) the most commonly prescribed SSRI in the US, b) one of only two FDA-approved drugs for treating PTSD, and c) one of the two most effective SSRIs for major depression, a common comorbidity with PTSD. Dosing will follow clinical practice guidelines, i.e., doses will be chosen based on clinical response and tolerability.
Description Of Administration Of Drug: The investigators are using an approach , which represents enhanced clinical care in that participants discuss medication levels, side effects, and symptoms with a psychiatrist every two weeks. Study medication and placebo will be stored and distributed by VA Boston Pharmacy service.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- All eligible participants will first undergo a 2 week placebo lead in. Following this 2 week period, placebo responders will remain on placebo. All other participants will begin a 12 week sertraline trial.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo only arm | Placebo comparator | Diagnostic Test: LDAEP, Drug: PlaceboFor individuals who are placebo responders during the 2 week placebo lead in phase, they will remain on placebo for the duration of the study (i.e., the 12 weeks where the placebo non-responders are taking sertraline). |
| Sertraline arm | Active comparator | Diagnostic Test: LDAEP, Drug: Placebo, Drug: sertralineAfter the 2-week placebo lead-in phase, placebo-non responders will receive sertraline 25 mg daily for 2 weeks. Thereafter, sertraline will be increased flexibly by 25 to 50 mg per day (at a rate no higher than 50 mg per week) to achieve a total daily dose of 50 to 200 mg, based on clinical response and tolerability, with a maximum dose of 200 mg/d. Subjects unable to tolerate higher doses may be dropped back to the previous dose and remain at that dose for the remainder of the study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- has a history of trauma exposure as defined by criterion A of PTSD in the DSM-5
- meets diagnostic criteria for PTSD, subthreshold PTSD, or MDD as defined by DSM-5
- study psychiatrist's judgment that SSRIs are an acceptable treatment option for the participant's presenting concerns, and
- interest in starting a trial of an SSRI
Key exclusion criteria (17 listed)
- current or past history of bipolar I disorder, schizophrenic or other psychotic disorders
- current organic brain disorder including severe traumatic brain injury, factitious disorder, or malingering
- pregnancy
- major neurological problems
- current moderate or severe substance use disorder
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 |
|---|---|---|
| LDAEPThis is an ERP task in which participants hear a series of tones ranging from 74dB to 104dB and electrophysiological activity is measured throughout. For each participant average P2 scores are derived for the 74dB tones, 84dB tones, 94dB tones, and 104dB tones. Then, LDAEP is defined as the slope of these average P2 scores. | Diagnostic test | Placebo only arm, Sertraline arm |
| Placeboplacebo pills of the same size, color and taste as the active drug will be administered | Drug | Placebo only arm, Sertraline arm |
| sertralineAlso: zoloftSertraline is an FDA approved SSRI for treatment of PTSD. | Drug | Sertraline arm |
Primary outcome
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the PZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
Time frame: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the CZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
Time frame: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the FZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
Time frame: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the PZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
Time frame: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the CZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score
Time frame: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score
The CAPS-5 is the "gold standard" clinical interview for assessing PTSD. This measure will be used to characterize the sample regarding PTSD diagnosis and as a measure of PTSD severity. Each of the 20 symptoms of PTSD included in DSM-5 is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0-4, with a 0 or 1 indicating that the symptom is absent or subthreshold and a score of 2-4 indicating that a symptom has reached the threshold to be included as a symptom and ranges in severity from moderate to extreme. The total range of the CAPS-5 is 0-80, higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
11 secondary outcomes
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the PZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the CZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the FZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the CZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- Self Report (QIDS-SR) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the PZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the FZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the CZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the PZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the FZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the CZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) as Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With N100 at the PZ Site)
Time frame: Administered at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Jun 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. A de-identified, anonymized dataset will be created and shared after study completion.
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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.
Suzanne Pineles, PhD principal investigator
VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing LDAEP and sertraline in people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive 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 4 inclusion and 17 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 17 Jun 2026. 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. 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.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
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 22 May 2026). 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 for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) After 14 Weeks of the Medication Trial Predicted by Pretreatment LDAEP Slope (Calculated With P200 at the PZ Site) and Controlling for Baseline CAPS Score (time frame: CAPS score administered 14 weeks after starting the medication trial, controlling for baseline CAPS score). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 17 Jun 2026.