Exposure, Relaxation, & Rescripting Therapy-Child (ERRT-C)

University of Tulsa

Status: Completed

Conditions: Nightmares Associated With Trauma and Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: Exposure, Relaxation, & Rescripting Therapy-Child

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01776229

TU 11-63RI

Details and patient eligibility

About

Untreated trauma-related nightmares and sleep-related disorders are associated with chronic health problems, burdening both the suffering individual and the health-care system. The study implements an innovative, cost-efficient, nightmare treatment for trauma-exposed children. It is the first randomized clinical trial with children, adapting an efficacious adult therapy to a 5-session nightmare treatment for 5-17 year-olds. Trauma nightmares are a mechanism in development and maintenance of secondary post-trauma psychopathology, medical problems and family dysfunction. Therefore, this treatment may prevent long-term secondary health and behavioral problems. It provides a viable healthcare option to Oklahomans, lessening long-term financial medical and behavioral health expenses. Scientific models currently view PTSD treatment as primary, often leaving nightmares untreated. That approach does not address the pernicious impact of trauma-nightmares in individuals with sub-threshold PTSD or whose nightmares are a primary condition. The theoretical innovation of this therapy can advance the field's understanding of the development of trauma sequelae.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 17 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• children age 5-17 with traumatic or potentially traumatic/adverse experiences and nightmares occurring at least once per week over a minimum of one month
• have a parent or legal guardian who is able to participate in treatment assignments at home and be able to read and speak English

Exclusion criteria

• adult, no traumatic experience, no nightmares, apparent psychosis, pervasive developmental disorder, or mental retardation, not able to read and speak English
• in order to ensure the verbal comprehension of the child, the PPVT will be used to help evaluate if a child is suitable for treatment, as an index to ensure they can verbally comprehend the cognitive component of treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Behavioral

Experimental group

Description:

Exposure, Relaxation, \& Rescripting Therapy-Child utilizes behavioral and cognitive therapy techniques of exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure, Relaxation, & Rescripting Therapy-Child

Waitlist Control

No Intervention group

Description:

All potential participants will be evaluated and some will be randomly placed in the control group, following the five-week treatment phase, participants in the control group will be re-evaluated and offered the treatment