Deep Brain Reorienting in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD

Treatments

Behavioral: Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04317820

114501 (Other Identifier)

8997

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will evaluate the efficacy of a therapeutic treatment, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), for PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder). Participants will be randomized to either the DBR treatment, or wait-list condition.

Full description

This study will evaluate the efficacy of Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) in reducing PTSD symptoms. DBR was designed by Dr. Frank Corrigan, a Scottish psychiatrist interested in the brain mechanisms underlying effective trauma psychotherapy. For this study, participants will be randomized to either the DBR treatment or wait-list study conditions. Trauma processing through DBR involves bringing up a traumatic memory and encourages the client to focus on tensions arising in the muscles of the shoulders, neck, head and face (i.e., those involved in orienting toward a threatening person/event). It is believed that this approach will allow the participant to process the traumatic memory in an emotionally manageable way, changing how it is represented/accessed in the brain's innate defensive system. Online Stream - Assessments will include clinical interviews (pre/post treatment, and follow-up) using Webex video conferencing, and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans (pre/post treatment). In-Person Stream - Assessment will include clinical interviews (pre/post treatment and follow-up), and fMRI scans (pre/post treatment).

Enrollment

214 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

English speaking
age: 18-65
meets diagnostic criteria for PTSD (as determined by study assessment)
may benefit from short-term trauma therapy (as determined by study assessment)

Exclusion criteria

Individuals with any implants, conditions, etc. that do not comply with 7-Tesla (7T) fMRI research safety standards (e.g., certain implants, pregnancy)
history of significant head injury/lengthy loss of consciousness (e.g., a Glasgow Coma Scale Score < 15 at the time of incident assessed retrospectively by participant)
significant untreated medical illness
history of neurological disorder
history of any pervasive developmental disorder
history of bipolar disorder
history of psychotic disorder
alcohol/substance abuse or dependence within the last 3 months
extensive narcotic use
current participation in counselling more extensive than supportive therapy (e.g., exposure therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy would be an exclusion)
a degree of mental distress that is unlikely to benefit from a short-term therapy (for our participants' well-being, it will be necessary that we believe it possible to safely address the issues/triggers brought up in treatment within the 8 sessions).