The Effects of Very Brief Exposure on PTSD in U.S. Combat Veterans

Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop a new behavioral treatment for U.S. combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), very brief exposure to combat-related stimuli. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How does Very Brief Exposure (combat images and control everyday images) and Visible Exposure to combat stimuli affect brain activity and subjective fear ratings? 2. To what extent are participants aware of the stimuli presented and tolerating the exposures? All participants will view both very brief exposure and visible exposure to combat stimuli in the functional magnetic brain imaging (fMRI) scan. They will provide ratings of fear, awareness, and tolerability. Researchers will compare U.S. combat veterans with PTSD and healthy controls to confirm differences in brain region activation and ratings.

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop a new behavioral treatment for U.S. combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), very brief exposure to combat-related stimuli. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How does Very Brief Exposure (combat images and control everyday images) and Visible Exposure to combat stimuli affect brain activity and subjective fear ratings? 2. To what extent are participants aware of the stimuli presented and tolerating the exposures? All participants will view both very brief exposure and visible exposure to combat stimuli in the functional magnetic brain imaging (fMRI) scan. They will provide ratings of fear, awareness, and tolerability. Researchers will compare U.S. combat veterans with PTSD and healthy controls to confirm differences in brain region activation and ratings.

The Effects of Very Brief Exposure on PTSD in U.S. Combat Veterans

The Effects of Very Brief Exposure on PTSD in U.S. Combat Veterans

Condition
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Los Angeles

Brain Imaging Lab, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90027

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Males and females ages 18-50
  • * Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of PTSD
  • * Traumatic event is a combat-based experience (e.g., being injured, watching a buddy be killed)
  • * Minimum score of 18 on the Combat Experience Scale (CES)
  • * Minimum score of 3 or more on Primary Care (PC)-PTSD-5
  • * Participants with other cooccurring psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety, ADHD) will be included to ensure a representative sample.
  • * Treatment for PTSD, substance abuse, or mental health concerns in the past 6 months
  • * 10 or more years since the combat trauma
  • * Acute intoxication
  • * Severe level of Substance Dependence (6 or more DSM-V symptoms)
  • * Prior diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders
  • * Current or past psychotic disorders or active psychotic symptoms
  • * Current Bipolar I Disorder
  • * Dementia
  • * Neurological or serious medical conditions (e.g., stroke, epilepsy/ seizure disorder, cancer, Lupus, HIV+);
  • * Traumatic brain injury
  • * Ferromagnetic implants (e.g., pacemaker), metal braces, retainers, tattoos or permanent make up w/ metallic content, transdermal medicinal patches that cannot be removed
  • * Neurological or serious medical conditions (e.g., stroke, epilepsy/ seizure disorder, cancer, Lupus, HIV+);
  • * Lifetime Diagnosis of PTSD, Tourette's Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, Substance Dependence, Eating Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, a psychotic disorder, Acute Stress Disorder
  • * Lifetime history of traumatic event defined as a life-threatening event involving physical attack, guns, fire or explosion (i.e the kinds of traumatic events combat veterans are likely to experience)
  • * Traumatic Brain Injury
  • * Birth at less than 37 weeks gestational age
  • * Claustrophobia
  • * Anxiety Disorder, Mood Disorder, Substance Abuse Disorder, Adjustment Disorder in past 2 years
  • * Treatment for mental health concern in past 2 years
  • * Pregnant Females

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Children's Hospital Los Angeles,

Bradley M Peterson, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Study Record Dates

2026-01