Cognitive Processing Therapy vs. Sertraline for the Treatment of PTSD & SUD in Egyptian Patients

Cognitive Processing Therapy Versus Sertraline for the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder & Substance Use Disorder Egyptian Patients

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 1

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03469128

Enrollment

150

Registered

2018-03-19

Start date

2016-01-01

Completion date

2020-01-01

Last updated

2021-04-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Psychologic Manipulation

Keywords

PTSD, CPT, SUD

Brief summary

The present research was aimed at comparing the effects of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) with the effects of Sertraline in treating patients who have dual diagnosis PTSD & SUD. The present study examines the extent to which CPT is effective in treating PTSD symptoms for patients with PTSD and SUD.

Detailed description

Patients with co-occurrence PTSD & SUD disorders were grouped into 3 groups: first: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in which participants completed 12 sessions of CPT. Second: were treated by Sertraline. Third: a placebo control group.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCognitive processing therapy

Psychological treatment for patients suffering from PTSD and SUD symptoms.

DRUGSertraline

Sertraline for the treatment of post-traumatic stress and SU disorders

OTHERPlacebo Control

Placebo Control

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

This is a three-group, repeated-measure, parallel-group, Randomized Control Trial design. Patients, study psychiatrists, and assessors were blind to treatment condition assignment. Randomization blocks of three were used to maintain equal group size. The 3-month assessment serves as the post-treatment. Outcome assessments were PTSD severity, substance use severity, and depression. The pharmacy of Ain Shams Hospital created sertraline and matching placebo kits with single-identifier numbers based on a random code that was provided to an unblinded statistician who will instruct the psychiatrist how to distribute kits to patients.

Intervention model description

Data were obtained by interviewing 587 patients diagnosed with SUD. Patients were interviewed by a clinician and asked to complete: Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I), and Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Patients with comorbid SUD and PTSD were asked to complete: The Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM), PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-5), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and Timeline Follow Back Interview (TLFB). Patients with comorbid SUD and PTSD were randomized to one of the following groups: 1) received CPT. 2) received Sertraline. 3) the Placebo control group.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Patients diagnosed with SUD

Exclusion criteria

* Patients diagnosed with other psychotic disorders

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Questionnaire	3 Months	A psychological parameter will be measured to check the efficacy of CPT against medication for the treatment for co-current PTSD & SUD. The groups will be examined to show if any significant reductions in PTSD and SUD symptoms was obtained over time.

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026