Cognitive Control Training for Extinction in PTSD (NCT06629064) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Cognitive Control Training for Extinction in PTSD
United States120 participantsStarted 2024-10-01
Plain-language summary
The proposed study will test whether a working memory training (WMT) program improves fear extinction learning and its underlying neural circuitry in Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). WMT is designed to improves the ability to maintain task-relevant information in mind. The project will further validate the relationship between working memory and fear extinction using novel computational and multivariate analyses that link to specific PTSD symptoms. If WMT can enhance fear extinction learning, then WMT may be a powerful adjunctive treatment that can enhance exposure therapy outcomes or be leveraged as a stand-alone treatment. This project supports the Department of Veteran Affairs mission of developing viable targets of treatment for Veterans with PTSD.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Fluent in English
* Meet current DSM-5 criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
* Are willing to attend 8 total remote sessions of working memory training over course of four weeks
* Are willing to attend MRI scans pre and post working memory training
* 4-week stability on pharmacological and psychosocial treatments
Exclusion Criteria:
* A lifetime history of psychotic disorders, lifetime history of bipolar disorder
* Past-year severe substance use and severe alcohol use disorder. Mild-to-moderate alcohol use disorder will be allowed to enhance generalizability in our sample due to the high comorbidity of alcohol use and PTSD
* History of any neurological disorder that might be associated with cognitive dysfunction (e.g., cerebrovascular accident, intracranial surgery, aneurysm, seizure disorder)
* Acute suicidality requiring immediate clinical intervention
* Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, mild to moderate levels of TBI (mTBI) will be included
* Receiving benzodiazepines or medications with anticholinergic effects that may affect fear learning measures
* Inability to safely complete fMRI session (i.e., metal in body, medical implants)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Behavioral Threat Expectancy Ratings During Extinction Performance