RecruitingNot Applicable

Sympathetic Overactivity in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

United States120 participantsStarted 2012-07

Plain-language summary

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent anxiety disorder that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and hypertension. One potential mechanism is overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), both at rest and particularly during stress. This study will evaluate whether 8 weeks of daily DGB therapy or transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) therapy improves SNS activity at rest and during stress.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years – 65 Years

SexALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * prehypertensive and normotensive veterans with PTSD, and prehypertensive and normotensive veterans without PTSD (controls) Exclusion Criteria: * heart or vascular disease * illicit drug use within the last 6 months * excessive alcohol use (\>2 drinks per day) * pregnancy * autonomic dysfunction * medications known to affect SNS (clonidine) * treatment with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors within the last 14 days * any serious systemic disease

What they're measuring

Change in Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity (MSNA) Burst Frequency at Rest

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 8

Change in Baroreflex Sensitivity (BRS) at Rest

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 8

Change in MSNA Burst Frequency While Under Mental Stress

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 8

Change in BRS While Under Mental Stress

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 8

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01627301

SponsorEmory University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-12

Contact for this trial

Deirdre Dixon, MS

404-321-6111 deirdre.dixon@emory.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Post-traumatic Stress Disorder trials