Program for Alleviating and Resolving Trauma and Stress 2

NCT ID: NCT05095428

Last Updated: 2025-07-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

82 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-04-28

Study Completion Date

2023-11-08

Brief Summary

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This pilot RCT will test the preliminary efficacy of an intensive group model of Internal Family Systems (IFS) called the Program for Alleviating and Resolving Trauma and Stress (PARTS) compared with a Nature-Based Stress Reduction for Trauma Survivors (NBSR-T) attention placebo control group at reducing PTSD symptom severity measured by Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). In addition, the effects of the interventions on self-reported PTSD symptoms, disassociation, and disturbances of self-organization (DSO), as well as mechanisms of emotion regulation, decentering and self-compassion will be secondary outcomes.

Detailed Description

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The investigators will conduct a pilot RCT to test the preliminary efficacy of the Program for Alleviating and Resolving Trauma and Stress (PARTS) compared with a Nature-Based Stress Reduction for Trauma Survivors (NBSR-T) control group at reducing PTSD symptom severity measured by Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5).

Secondary clinical outcomes include the effects of the intervention on self-reported PTSD symptoms (PCL-5; CAT-PTSD), disassociation (MDI), and disturbances of self-organization (ITQ). Secondary mechanistic outcomes include emotion regulation (DERS), self-compassion (SCS-SF), and decentering (EQ-D) .

Exploratory aims of the study are to investigate the effects on depression (CAT-DI), mental health (CAT-MH scales), self-trauma fusion (PRISM-D), perceived stress (PSS), internalized stigma (ISMI), and interoception (MAIA-2). Additional exploratory outcomes include changes in outcome variables among PTSD subjects with baseline DSO and those without DSO as defined by the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ).

Conditions

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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
Participants will be unaware of study hypotheses or arms and will be told the study is for stress reduction among people with trauma/PTSD.

The staff member responsible for final determination of study eligibility will be blinded to the randomization sequence.

The Data Analyst and methodologist will be blinded to participant identity prior to and during randomization and analysis.

The PI will be blinded to participant randomization status for the duration of the study.

Medical Review Officer: The MRO will not be blinded and will be responsible for advising on adverse events.

Independent Evaluators conducting the CAPS-5 assessments will be blinded to the participants' randomization status. To protect this, independent CAPS-5 evaluators will be located separately from group leaders and therapists. In the event of an unintentional unblinding, a new rater will be assigned to assess the relevant participant(s).

Study Groups

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PARTS

The Program for Alleviating and Resolving Trauma and Stress (PARTS) Program is a 16-week group intervention model of Internal Family Systems (IFS), with 8 individual IFS clinical sessions on a biweekly basis, developed to resolve and alleviate trauma and stress for individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

PARTS Program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The PARTS Program is a 16-week group intervention model of Internal Family Systems (IFS), with 8 individual IFS clinical sessions on a biweekly basis, developed to resolve and alleviate trauma and stress for individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

NBSR-T

The Nature Based Stress Reduction for Trauma Survivors (NBSR-T) Program is a 16-week nature-based group intervention model, with 8 individual non-IFS clinical sessions on a biweekly basis, developed as an attention placebo control for individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

NBSR-T Program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The NBSR-T Program is a 16-week nature-based group intervention model, with 8 individual non-IFS clinical sessions on a biweekly basis, developed as an attention placebo control for individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

Interventions

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PARTS Program

The PARTS Program is a 16-week group intervention model of Internal Family Systems (IFS), with 8 individual IFS clinical sessions on a biweekly basis, developed to resolve and alleviate trauma and stress for individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

NBSR-T Program

The NBSR-T Program is a 16-week nature-based group intervention model, with 8 individual non-IFS clinical sessions on a biweekly basis, developed as an attention placebo control for individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Be able to bill insurance for individual psychotherapy at CHA;
* Be a current patient of CHA primary care, behavioral health care or CHA MINDWell;
* Have a current diagnosis of PTSD OR a CAT-MH PTSD score \>58;
* Have sufficient English fluency and literacy skills to understand the consent process, procedures and questionnaires and have the ability to provide written informed consent;
* Have access to the internet and an electronic device with adequate data capacity; to complete questionnaires online and attend online videoconference groups;
* Must be available and willing to attend the scheduled online group sessions for 16 weeks; and must be available and willing to complete the online computerized assessments and phone interviews.

Exclusion Criteria

* Inability to complete an informed consent assessment AND/OR inability to complete baseline study assessment procedures (due to cognitive deficit, non-proficiency in English literacy, or any other reason);
* Current participation in another experimental research study;
* Expected medical hospitalization in six months from the date of enrollment;
* Expected incarceration in six months from the date of enrollment;
* Individuals who are pregnant with a due date within 26 weeks after study consent;
* Insufficient level of severity of PTSD symptoms: CAPS-5 SEV2 Total score less than 26; PTSD score of less than 31 on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-V (PCL-5)8 at screening visit;
* Inability to participate safely in the study intervention and without disrupting the group (in the opinion of principal investigator OR meeting any of the following criteria):
* Past year history of a psychotic disorder or clinician confirmed active psychosis (Severe level of psychosis on PSY-S-CAT \> 30 will trigger the requirement of a clinical assessment prior to participation in the program)
* Bipolar I disorder history or severe level of mania on CAT-MH5 (\>70)
* Acute suicidality or self-injurious behavior
* Severe depression, indicated by CAT-DI \> 755,65
* Acute homicidality with plan and/or intent;
* Hospitalization for suicide attempt or self-harm within three months of the enrollment period;
* Severe Borderline Personality Disorder or other severe personality disorder that may lead to disruptions within the group; and/or
* Moderate or severe Substance Use Disorder. In addition, use of or positive toxicology for illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, opioids, etc.) or non-prescribed controlled medications (i.e., opioids, stimulants, or benzodiazepines) in the past 3 months.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Foundation for Self Leadership

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Cambridge Health Alliance

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Zev Schuman Olivier

Director, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion and Director of Addiction Research

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Zev Schuman-Olivier, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Center for Mindfulness and Compassion

Locations

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Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Mindfulness and Compassion

Somerville, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Cloitre M, Shevlin M, Brewin CR, Bisson JI, Roberts NP, Maercker A, Karatzias T, Hyland P. The International Trauma Questionnaire: development of a self-report measure of ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018 Dec;138(6):536-546. doi: 10.1111/acps.12956. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30178492 (View on PubMed)

Weathers FW, Bovin MJ, Lee DJ, Sloan DM, Schnurr PP, Kaloupek DG, Keane TM, Marx BP. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5): Development and initial psychometric evaluation in military veterans. Psychol Assess. 2018 Mar;30(3):383-395. doi: 10.1037/pas0000486. Epub 2017 May 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28493729 (View on PubMed)

Blevins CA, Weathers FW, Davis MT, Witte TK, Domino JL. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): Development and Initial Psychometric Evaluation. J Trauma Stress. 2015 Dec;28(6):489-98. doi: 10.1002/jts.22059. Epub 2015 Nov 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26606250 (View on PubMed)

Eisen SV, Schultz MR, Ni P, Haley SM, Smith EG, Spiro A, Osei-Bonsu PE, Nordberg S, Jette AM. Development and Validation of a Computerized-Adaptive Test for PTSD (P-CAT). Psychiatr Serv. 2016 Oct 1;67(10):1116-1123. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500382. Epub 2016 Jun 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27247175 (View on PubMed)

Briere J, Weathers FW, Runtz M. Is dissociation a multidimensional construct? Data from the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory. J Trauma Stress. 2005 Jun;18(3):221-31. doi: 10.1002/jts.20024.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16281216 (View on PubMed)

Achtyes ED, Halstead S, Smart L, Moore T, Frank E, Kupfer DJ, Gibbons R. Validation of Computerized Adaptive Testing in an Outpatient Nonacademic Setting: The VOCATIONS Trial. Psychiatr Serv. 2015 Oct;66(10):1091-6. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201400390. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26030317 (View on PubMed)

Raes F, Pommier E, Neff KD, Van Gucht D. Construction and factorial validation of a short form of the Self-Compassion Scale. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2011 May-Jun;18(3):250-5. doi: 10.1002/cpp.702. Epub 2010 Jun 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21584907 (View on PubMed)

Mitchell AM, Crane PA, Kim Y. Perceived stress in survivors of suicide: psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Scale. Res Nurs Health. 2008 Dec;31(6):576-85. doi: 10.1002/nur.20284.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18449942 (View on PubMed)

Mehling WE, Acree M, Stewart A, Silas J, Jones A. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2). PLoS One. 2018 Dec 4;13(12):e0208034. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208034. eCollection 2018.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30513087 (View on PubMed)

Gratz, K.L., Roemer, L. Multidimensional Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Dysregulation: Development, Factor Structure, and Initial Validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment 26, 41-54 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000007455.08539.94

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Kok T, De Haan HA, Sensky T, van der Meer M, De Jong CAJ. Using the Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) to Quantify and Compare Suffering From Trauma and Addiction. J Dual Diagn. 2017 Apr-Jun;13(2):101-108. doi: 10.1080/15504263.2017.1293867. Epub 2017 Feb 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28368709 (View on PubMed)

Buchi S, Villiger P, Kauer Y, Klaghofer R, Sensky T, Stoll T. PRISM (Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure)- a novel visual method to assess the global burden of illness in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus. 2000;9(5):368-73. doi: 10.1191/096120300678828479.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10878730 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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CHA-IRB-21-22-18

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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