Post Traumatic Stress DisorderCOSTNCT07851090
Anger, Social Cognition and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Former French Military Personnel
An observational study of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, run by Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armées at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
This is a single-center cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of former military personnel who had been diagnosed with PTSD. The main objective of this study is to test a mediation model positing that PTSD increases individuals' levels of anger through its detrimental effect on social cognitive abilities… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- How many people
- 150 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 30 May 2025to 30 Nov 2029
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 45 years
- All sexes
- Adult
Study population: These are former French military personnel who have been out of active duty for more than 6 months and are receiving a military disability pension for PTSD.
Who may be able to join
- Be of legal age and between 18 and 45 years old;
- Be able to speak, read, and write French;
- Have given oral consent after receiving an oral explanation of the study's objectives and procedures;
- Sign a written, informed, and electronic consent form after reviewing an information sheet explaining the study's objectives and procedures;
- Be enrolled in a social security program;
- Receive a military disability pension (PMI) (temporary or permanent) of 20% or more.
- Additional criterion for the qualitative component: reporting having been exposed to events that could be morally harmful (verified through a specific question in the sociodemographic questionnaire).
Who cannot join
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women;
- Minors;
- Individuals under administrative or judicial supervision;
- Adults under legal guardianship;
- Reservists who have not previously served on active duty;
- Individuals who cannot be contacted in an emergency;
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- Physical conditions related to trauma, including head injuries;
- Participants with a comorbid psychotic disorder;
- Participants who regularly use illicit drugs
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Marmuse Anaïs
Draguignan, 83300
Marmuse Anaïs, PhD, +336.42.89.18.97, anais.marmuse@intradef.gouv.fr
About this study
This is a single-center cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of former military personnel who had been diagnosed with PTSD. The main objective of this study is to test a mediation model positing that PTSD increases individuals' levels of anger through its detrimental effect on social cognitive abilities (Quantitative component). The secondary objectives focus on the impact of alcohol consumption and ACE on the three components (theory of mind, emotional decoding, empathy) of social cognition (qualitative component). A second secondary objective aims to explore the moral harms reported by former military personnel through a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews (qualitative component).
Primary Objective (Quantitative Component): To examine the links between PTSD, anger, and social cognition among French veterans using mediation analyses. The aim is to test whether PTSD (independent variable) indirectly influences individuals' levels of anger (dependent variable) through its effect on social cognition (mediating variable).
Read more
Secondary Objectives:
- Quantitative component: to examine other factors associated with PTSD that may influence social cognitive abilities, such as alcohol consumption and experiences of childhood abuse (Abuse Childhood Experience-ACE);
- Qualitative component: to explore the psychological trauma experienced by military personnel through a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews.
Evaluation criteria:
Main Components:
Quantitative Component
Self-report scales for PTSD, anger, and empathy, as well as two social cognition tasks:
- PCL-5 - Posttraumatic Checklist-5
- STAXI-2 - Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2
- EQ - Empathy Quotient
- MASC - Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition
- TREF - Facial Emotion Recognition Test
Secondary:
- Quantitative component Self-reported scales of alcohol use, childhood abuse experiences, and anxiety and depression:
- AUDIT - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
- ACE-IQ - Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire
- HADS - Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
- Qualitative component - Content of verbatim transcripts from semi-structured interviews
Read the detailed description
Former military personnel eligible for the study are identified by the Pension and Occupational Risks Service (SPRP) through a computerized selection process using a database of individuals who meet the eligibility criteria. The SPRP serves as the internal partner that provides the investigator with a database of pensioners identified as eligible for the study. Based on this list, which is compiled according to the inclusion criteria, the principal investigator is responsible for sending a recruitment letter (via email; Visit 1: group information session) to eligible participants to invite them to participate in the study. The SPRP serves as the study's information center. It is responsible for sending a recruitment letter by regular mail (Visit 1: group information session) to eligible participants to invite them to participate in the study. Following this, participants will contact the investigator, who will conduct the individual information session (Visit 2), verify the inclusion criteria, and obtain their verbal consent. Initially, the quantitative component of the study will be conducted via a web link that will be sent to participants so they can complete the online tests and questionnaires (see CRF-Parts 2 through 5) on a dedicated platform on their own (Visit 3). Next, participants who are eligible for the qualitative component of the study will be contacted by phone (visit 4) and, with their consent, will participate in a semi-structured interview (visit 5).
- Conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Keywords
- PTSD, Social Cognition, Anger, veterans
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
PCL-5 score
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 score to evaluate PTSD symptom severity.
Measured: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
STAXI-2 Score
State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 score to evaluate anger expression.
Measured: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
EQ score
Empathy Quotient score to evaluate empathy.
Measured: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
MASC score
Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition score to evaluate social cognition.
Measured: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
TREF score
Test de Reconnaissance des Émotions Faciales score to evaluate facial emotion recognition.
Measured: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
AUDIT score
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score to evaluate alcohol consumption.
Measured: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
ACE-IQ score
Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire score.
Measured: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
HADS score
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score to evaluate anxiety and depression.
Measured: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Oct 2026
- Study start30 May 2025
- Primary completion30 Nov 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Nov 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Post Traumatic Stress DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armées
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Anaïs Marmuse, PhD, Principal investigator, Service Santé des Armées
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07851090
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2021PPRC11
- Other IDs
- 2023-A01706-39
- Acronym
- COST
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 1 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Anger, Social Cognition and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Former French Military Personnel
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07851090
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- COST / 2021PPRC11
- Conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Keywords
- PTSD, Social Cognition, Anger, veterans
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des ArméesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
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 single-center cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of former military personnel who had been diagnosed with PTSD. The main objective of this study is to test a mediation model positing that PTSD increases individuals' levels of anger through its detrimental effect on social cognitive abilities (Quantitative component). The secondary objectives focus on the impact of alcohol consumption and ACE on the three components (theory of mind, emotional decoding, empathy) of social cognition (qualitative component). A second secondary objective aims to explore the moral harms reported by former military personnel through a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews (qualitative component).
Primary Objective (Quantitative Component): To examine the links between PTSD, anger, and social cognition among French veterans using mediation analyses. The aim is to test whether PTSD (independent variable) indirectly influences individuals' levels of anger (dependent variable) through its effect on social cognition (mediating variable).
Secondary Objectives:
- Quantitative component: to examine other factors associated with PTSD that may influence social cognitive abilities, such as alcohol consumption and experiences of childhood abuse (Abuse Childhood Experience-ACE);
- Qualitative component: to explore the psychological trauma experienced by military personnel through a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews.
Evaluation criteria:
Main Components:
Quantitative Component
Self-report scales for PTSD, anger, and empathy, as well as two social cognition tasks:
- PCL-5 - Posttraumatic Checklist-5
- STAXI-2 - Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2
- EQ - Empathy Quotient
- MASC - Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition
- TREF - Facial Emotion Recognition Test
Secondary:
- Quantitative component Self-reported scales of alcohol use, childhood abuse experiences, and anxiety and depression:
- AUDIT - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
- ACE-IQ - Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire
- HADS - Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
- Qualitative component - Content of verbatim transcripts from semi-structured interviews
Detailed description
Former military personnel eligible for the study are identified by the Pension and Occupational Risks Service (SPRP) through a computerized selection process using a database of individuals who meet the eligibility criteria. The SPRP serves as the internal partner that provides the investigator with a database of pensioners identified as eligible for the study. Based on this list, which is compiled according to the inclusion criteria, the principal investigator is responsible for sending a recruitment letter (via email; Visit 1: group information session) to eligible participants to invite them to participate in the study. The SPRP serves as the study's information center. It is responsible for sending a recruitment letter by regular mail (Visit 1: group information session) to eligible participants to invite them to participate in the study. Following this, participants will contact the investigator, who will conduct the individual information session (Visit 2), verify the inclusion criteria, and obtain their verbal consent. Initially, the quantitative component of the study will be conducted via a web link that will be sent to participants so they can complete the online tests and questionnaires (see CRF-Parts 2 through 5) on a dedicated platform on their own (Visit 3). Next, participants who are eligible for the qualitative component of the study will be contacted by phone (visit 4) and, with their consent, will participate in a semi-structured interview (visit 5).
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- These are former French military personnel who have been out of active duty for more than 6 months and are receiving a military disability pension for PTSD.
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Be of legal age and between 18 and 45 years old;
- Be able to speak, read, and write French;
- Have given oral consent after receiving an oral explanation of the study's objectives and procedures;
- Sign a written, informed, and electronic consent form after reviewing an information sheet explaining the study's objectives and procedures;
- Be enrolled in a social security program;
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women;
- Minors;
- Individuals under administrative or judicial supervision;
- Adults under legal guardianship;
- Reservists who have not previously served on active duty;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
PCL-5 score
Time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 score to evaluate PTSD symptom severity.
STAXI-2 Score
Time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 score to evaluate anger expression.
EQ score
Time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
Empathy Quotient score to evaluate empathy.
MASC score
Time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition score to evaluate social cognition.
TREF score
Time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
Test de Reconnaissance des Émotions Faciales score to evaluate facial emotion recognition.
AUDIT score
Time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score to evaluate alcohol consumption.
ACE-IQ score
Time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire score.
HADS score
Time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score to evaluate anxiety and depression.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Oct 2026.
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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.
Anaïs Marmuse, PhD principal investigator
Service Santé des Armées
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, run by Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armées at 1 site in France.
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 7 inclusion and 9 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Oct 2026. 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 France. 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.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Anaïs Marmuse, PhD (+336.42.89.18.97, anais.marmuse@intradef.gouv.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
PCL-5 score (time frame: 1 week post-enrollment (at Visit 3)). The study lists 8 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 1 Oct 2026.