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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Plus Reactivation Therapy Efficacy on PTSD Symptom Severity in Resistant PTSD

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Plus Reactivation Therapy Efficacy on PTSD Symptom Severity in Resistant PTSD, a Randomized Double Blind Sham Controlled Trial (TraumaStim)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06111976
Acronym
TraumaStim
Enrollment
102
Registered
2023-11-01
Start date
2024-03-07
Completion date
2026-10-07
Last updated
2024-05-08

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

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

Stress Disorders, Traumatic Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders, Mental Disorders

Brief summary

A French multicenter randomized and double blinded shamed controlled study recruiting patients who present resistant PTSD. The aim of this trial is to assess the efficacy of cerebral modulation by rTMS with simultaneous reactivation of traumatic memory on the PTSD symptoms at M1.

Detailed description

Detailed Description : PTSD is considered as one of the top 10 public health concerns. Most patients with PTSD receive pharmacologic treatment and traumatic reactivation therapy. However, to date, the optimal treatment alternatives for non-responders PTSD patients are unknown. Functionally, the metabolic activity of the prefrontal-amygdala cortex circuit in PTSD is significantly altered. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) provides focused, non-invasive stimulation of cortical areas of the central nervous system and could correct cortical defective activation of the prefrontal cortex seen in PTSD Patient (FDA has already approved rTMS for depression and acoustic-verbal hallucinations treatment). Pairing rTMS with cues relevant to the trauma may be a novel approach to treat PTSD patient. The study will enroll 102 subjects with resistant PTSD. After screening and inclusion phase, the treatment phase with 12 sessions of rTMS and simultaneous reactivation of traumatic memory or sham rTMS and simultaneous reactivation of traumatic memory will be performed (3 to 4 weeks). Antidepressant treatment will be maintained. The follow up phase consist of 3 visits at M1, M3 and M6 to follow the evolution of the PTSD symptoms.

Interventions

PROCEDURERepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

rTMS with simultaneous reactivation of traumatic memory will be performed 3 to 4 times a week for 3 to 4 weeks through 12 sessions. A traumatic script will be prepared by the patient at the inclusion visit, which will be used to reactivate the traumatic memory after every rTMS or sham rTMS sessions.

PROCEDUREPlacebo

sham rTMS with simultaneous reactivation of traumatic memory will be performed 3 to 4 times a week for 3 to 4 weeks through 12 sessions. A traumatic script will be prepared by the patient at the inclusion visit, which will be used to reactivate the traumatic memory after every rTMS or sham rTMS sessions.

Sponsors

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients aged between 18 and 65 years. * Presenting a PTSD according to DSM-5 criteria * Patient with persistent symptoms (PCL-5\>40) after a 6 weeks treatment with labelled antidepressant for PTSD (paroxetine or sertraline) * Patient with health insurance (AME excepted) * Signed written inform consent

Exclusion criteria

: * Contraindication for rTMS: * History of epilepsy or seizure * Cochlear implants * Cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines, or metal in the body * Patient has already had a rTMS session and/or Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and/or Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) * Ongoing PTSD-oriented cognitive-behavioral therapy * Lifetime psychotic or bipolar disorder or antisocial personality or borderline personality * Brain injury defined by medical report (including cortical and subcortical atrophy, dementia, stroke, transient ischemic attack and head trauma) * Current substance dependence (including alcohol, excluding tobacco); * Acute suicidal ideation * No adequate mastering of the French language or no ability to consent * Pregnancy (confirmed by a urine test beta-HCG) or breast feeding or absence of birth control * Patient under legal protection measure and or deprived of freedom * Participation in any other interventional study or in the exclusion period any other interventional study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
PTSD severity score measured at M1 after 12 sessions of rTMS or sham rTMS and simultaneous reactivation of traumatic memoryMonth 1 after 12 sessions of rTMSCAPS-5 total severity score at M1 post treatment will be compared between groups (cerebral modulation by rTMS with simultaneous reactivation of traumatic memory VS sham rTMS with simultaneous reactivation of traumatic memory)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The severity of PTSD assessed by PCL-5 at each visit.at once a during TMS sessions, Month1, Month 3 and Month 6 post treatment.PTSD severity score measured with the PTSD Checklist (PCL-S self-questionnaire) at once a during TMS sessions, M1, M3 and M6 post treatment
Dissociative symptoms severity scores (1)at inclusion (V1), up to 4 weeks (V13) (end of treatment), Month 1, Month 3, Month 6 post treatmentDissociative symptoms severity score measured with the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS)
Dissociative symptoms severity scores (2)at inclusion (V1), up to 4 weeks (V13) (end of treatment), Month 1, Month 3, Month 6 post treatmentThe Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA)
Dissociative symptoms severity scores (3)at inclusion (V1), up to 4 weeks (V13) (end of treatment), Month 1, Month 3, Month 6 post treatmentThe Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)
PTSD severity scores at M3 and M6 measured with CAPS-5At inclusion (v1), Month 3 and Month 6 post treatmentThe different dimensions of PTSD (assess by CAPS-5): Severity, repetition, avoidance, neurovegetative activation at M3 and M6 post treatment
Symptoms of depression at V13 (end of treatment), M1, M3, M6 post treatment.at V13 (end of treatment), Month 1, Month 3, Month 6 post treatment.The severity scores of the dimensions of depression measured with HAM-D at V13 (end of treatment), M1, M3 and M6.
Evolution of social cognition at M3 post treatment.at Month 3 post treatmentEvolution of social cognition at M3 post treatment by a neuropsychologist
Quality of lifepost treatment and Month 6Quality of life evolution post treatment and M6 assessed by WHOQOL EuroQol Health Measure
Proportion of adverse events during the active treatment phase and during the follow-upthrough study completion, up to 6 monthsNumber and description of adverse events during the active treatment phase and during the follow-up
The severity scores of the dimensions of anxiety at V13 (end of treatment), M1, M3, M6 post treatment.Up to 4 weeks (V13) (end of treatment), Month 1, Month 3, Month 6 post treatment.The severity scores of the dimensions of anxiety measured with HAM-A at V13 (end of treatment), M1, M3 and M6.

Countries

France

Contacts

Primary ContactFlorian FERRERI, MD, Ph
florian.ferreri@aphp.fr+33149282635

Outcome results

None listed

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