Trial Outcomes & Findings for Dexamethasone Plus Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for PTSD (NCT NCT01965366)

NCT ID: NCT01965366

Last Updated: 2018-07-12

Results Overview

The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) provides a diagnostic measure of PTSD and a continuous measure of the severity, frequency, and intensity of the three symptom clusters (intrusion, avoidance, and arousal) and overall PTSD. The assessor combines information about frequency and intensity of an item into a single severity rating. Severity Rating: 0. Absent; 1. Mild / subthreshold;2. Moderate / threshold; 3. Severe / markedly elevated; 4.Extreme / incapacitating. The assessor combines information about frequency and intensity of an item into a single severity rating. CAPS-5 total symptom severity score is calculated by summing severity scores for the 20 DSM-5 PTSD symptoms. Scores may range from 0-80, with a higher score indicating more reported symptoms of PTSD.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE4

Target enrollment

27 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline and immediate post treatment (up to 12 weeks from baseline)

Results posted on

2018-07-12

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Dexamethasone + VRE
0.5 mg DEX + virtual reality exposure therapy Virtual reality exposure therapy: Virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which participants are helped to confront their traumatic memories in a therapeutic manner. They describe the events out loud and their therapist attempts to match what they are describing in the virtual reality. This is done repeatedly, allowing distress associated with these memories to decrease. Material that emerges during the VRE exposure is processed, or discussed, after the exposure, allowing participants to think about themselves and the event differently. 0.5 mg DEX: A dose of DEX will be given the night before (approximately 10 hours before) each of 5 to 11 individual virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy sessions.
Placebo + VRE
Placebo + virtual reality exposure therapy Virtual reality exposure therapy: Virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which participants are helped to confront their traumatic memories in a therapeutic manner. They describe the events out loud and their therapist attempts to match what they are describing in the virtual reality. This is done repeatedly, allowing distress associated with these memories to decrease. Material that emerges during the VRE exposure is processed, or discussed, after the exposure, allowing participants to think about themselves and the event differently.
Overall Study
STARTED
13
14
Overall Study
COMPLETED
3
9
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
10
5

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Dexamethasone Plus Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for PTSD

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Dexamethasone + VRE
n=13 Participants
0.5 mg DEX + virtual reality exposure therapy Virtual reality exposure therapy: Virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which participants are helped to confront their traumatic memories in a therapeutic manner. They describe the events out loud and their therapist attempts to match what they are describing in the virtual reality. This is done repeatedly, allowing distress associated with these memories to decrease. Material that emerges during the VRE exposure is processed, or discussed, after the exposure, allowing participants to think about themselves and the event differently. 0.5 mg DEX: A dose of DEX will be given the night before (approximately 10 hours before) each of 5 to 11 individual virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy sessions.
Placebo + VRE
n=14 Participants
Placebo + virtual reality exposure therapy Virtual reality exposure therapy: Virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which participants are helped to confront their traumatic memories in a therapeutic manner. They describe the events out loud and their therapist attempts to match what they are describing in the virtual reality. This is done repeatedly, allowing distress associated with these memories to decrease. Material that emerges during the VRE exposure is processed, or discussed, after the exposure, allowing participants to think about themselves and the event differently.
Total
n=27 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
27 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
27 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
white
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
black
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
other
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
13 participants
n=5 Participants
14 participants
n=7 Participants
27 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and immediate post treatment (up to 12 weeks from baseline)

The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) provides a diagnostic measure of PTSD and a continuous measure of the severity, frequency, and intensity of the three symptom clusters (intrusion, avoidance, and arousal) and overall PTSD. The assessor combines information about frequency and intensity of an item into a single severity rating. Severity Rating: 0. Absent; 1. Mild / subthreshold;2. Moderate / threshold; 3. Severe / markedly elevated; 4.Extreme / incapacitating. The assessor combines information about frequency and intensity of an item into a single severity rating. CAPS-5 total symptom severity score is calculated by summing severity scores for the 20 DSM-5 PTSD symptoms. Scores may range from 0-80, with a higher score indicating more reported symptoms of PTSD.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Dexamethasone + VRE
n=3 Participants
0.5 mg DEX + virtual reality exposure therapy Virtual reality exposure therapy: Virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which participants are helped to confront their traumatic memories in a therapeutic manner. They describe the events out loud and their therapist attempts to match what they are describing in the virtual reality. This is done repeatedly, allowing distress associated with these memories to decrease. Material that emerges during the VRE exposure is processed, or discussed, after the exposure, allowing participants to think about themselves and the event differently. 0.5 mg DEX: A dose of DEX will be given the night before (approximately 10 hours before) each of 5 to 11 individual virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy sessions.
Placebo + VRE
n=9 Participants
Placebo + virtual reality exposure therapy Virtual reality exposure therapy: Virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which participants are helped to confront their traumatic memories in a therapeutic manner. They describe the events out loud and their therapist attempts to match what they are describing in the virtual reality. This is done repeatedly, allowing distress associated with these memories to decrease. Material that emerges during the VRE exposure is processed, or discussed, after the exposure, allowing participants to think about themselves and the event differently.
Change in The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS)Scores
-11 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.44
-15.22 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.40

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and immediate post treatment (up to 12 weeks from baseline)

The PTSD Symptom Scale (PSS) is a 17-item interview used to aid in the detection and diagnosis of PTSD. The structure and content of the PSS mirror the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. For each item, the interviewer assigns a rating to reflect a combination of frequency and severity (from O = "not at all" to 3 = "5 or more times per week/very much"). Scores range from 0-51, with higher scores indicating more reported symptoms of PTSD. A score of 13 or higher indicates the likelihood of PTSD.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Dexamethasone + VRE
n=3 Participants
0.5 mg DEX + virtual reality exposure therapy Virtual reality exposure therapy: Virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which participants are helped to confront their traumatic memories in a therapeutic manner. They describe the events out loud and their therapist attempts to match what they are describing in the virtual reality. This is done repeatedly, allowing distress associated with these memories to decrease. Material that emerges during the VRE exposure is processed, or discussed, after the exposure, allowing participants to think about themselves and the event differently. 0.5 mg DEX: A dose of DEX will be given the night before (approximately 10 hours before) each of 5 to 11 individual virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy sessions.
Placebo + VRE
n=9 Participants
Placebo + virtual reality exposure therapy Virtual reality exposure therapy: Virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which participants are helped to confront their traumatic memories in a therapeutic manner. They describe the events out loud and their therapist attempts to match what they are describing in the virtual reality. This is done repeatedly, allowing distress associated with these memories to decrease. Material that emerges during the VRE exposure is processed, or discussed, after the exposure, allowing participants to think about themselves and the event differently.
Change in The PTSD Symptom Scale Scores
-9 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 16.97
-16.65 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.69

Adverse Events

Dexamethasone + VRE

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo + VRE

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Barbara Rothbaum

Emory University

Phone: 404-712-8866

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place