Implementing a Therapy for Complex Trauma in French-Speaking Settings (TRAUL)

Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Status: Completed

Conditions: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD; Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD); Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Treatments: Behavioral: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (DBT-PTSD)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07123974

2023-3031

Details and patient eligibility

About

Many individuals living with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have experienced childhood trauma, such as abuse or neglect. A significant number of them also meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, standard psychotherapies often do not address both conditions at the same time, which can affect treatment outcomes.

A research team in Germany developed and validated a 45-week individual psychotherapy that has shown promising results for individuals coping with both BPD and PTSD. It has already been adapted and offered in English-speaking settings such as Toronto and Boston.

This study aims to adapt this therapy into French in Quebec. Over 24 months, we will conduct a mixed-methods observational study to evaluate changes in symptoms (BPD, PTSD, and other comorbidities) and in daily functioning.

Enrollment: 15 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• PTSD according to the DSM caused by sexual or physical abuse up to the age of 18.
• Three or more criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) according to the SCID-II, including affective instability.
• Availability for one year of outpatient treatment (psychotherapy).
• Access to an email address usable for secure links to questionnaires.
• Fluent French-speaking.

Exclusion criteria

• Psychotic disorder, bipolar I disorder, intellectual disability, or severe psychopathology requiring immediate care as determined by the treating psychiatrist.
• Severe suicide attempt within two months prior to the inclusion visit.
• Medical condition preventing inclusion (e.g., pregnancy).
• Highly unstable living situation (e.g., homelessness).
• Current substance dependence.
• Having received specific treatment for PTSD or BPD within the year preceding the inclusion visit.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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15 participants in 1 patient group

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (DBT-PTSD)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (DBT-PTSD) psychotherapy over 45 weekly individual outpatient sessions. All participants followed the same treatment protocol.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (DBT-PTSD)