The Role of Computerized Training in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a computerized training, "Cognitive Bias Modification" targetting appraisals (CBM-App), can reduce dysfunctional appraisals of trauma in patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), compared to a control condition. Other outcomes measured include symptoms of PTSD and trauma-relevant dysfunctional cognitions. Participants are recruited from inpatients with PTSD admitted to the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Clinic of Ruhr University of Bochum.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Phase 1/Phase 2 |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Intervention Computerized Cognitive Bias Modification of Appraisals (CBM-App), developed from that used by Woud et al. (2012,2013). The intervention comprises 8 sessions completed over a period of 2 weeks. The training takes place while participants are also receiving specialized inpatient treatment for PTSD at the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Clinic of Ruhr University of Bochum. |
Behavioral: Cognitive Bias Modification of Appraisals (CBM-App)
|
| Sham Comparator: Control Computerized Peripheral Vision Task (PVT), developed from that used by Calkins et al. (2015). The intervention comprises 8 sessions completed over a period of 2 weeks. The training takes place while participants are also receiving specialized inpatient treatment for PTSD at the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Clinic of Ruhr University of Bochum. |
Behavioral: Peripheral Vision Task (control condition)
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Dysfunctional trauma-related appraisals as measured using an open-ended ambiguous scenarios task [Post-intervention (~ 2 weeks post-baseline)]
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Dysfunctional trauma-related appraisals as measured using an open-ended ambiguous scenarios task [Baseline, Mid-intervention (~1 week post-baseline), End of inpatient admission (~6 weeks post-baseline), 6 weeks post-discharge, 3 months post-discharge]
- Post-Traumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) [Baseline, Mid-intervention (~1 week post-baseline), Post-intervention (~2 weeks post-baseline), End of inpatient admission (~6 weeks post-baseline), 6 weeks post-discharge, 3 months post-discharge]
The PTCI (Foa et al., 1999) is administered asking participants to report on their experience of post-traumatic cognitions in the previous week.
- PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) [Baseline, Mid-intervention (~1 week post-baseline), Post-intervention (~2 weeks post-baseline), End of inpatient admission (~6 weeks post-baseline), 6 weeks post-discharge, 3 months post-discharge]
The PCL-5 (Weathers et al., 2013; German version by Ehring, Knaevelsrud, Krüger & Schäfer) is administered asking participants to report on their experience of post-traumatic symptoms in the previous week.
- Intrusions Questionnaire [Baseline, Mid-intervention (~1 week post-baseline), Post-intervention (~2 weeks post-baseline), End of inpatient admission (~6 weeks post-baseline), 6 weeks post-discharge, 3 months post-discharge]
The intrusions questionnaire asks participants to report on the frequency and characteristics of intrusive memories of trauma in the preceding week
- Trauma Implicit Associations Test (IAT) [Baseline, Post-intervention (~2 weeks post-baseline)]
As developed by Lindgren et al. (2013)
Other Outcome Measures
- Hair Cortisol Concentration [Baseline, End of inpatient admission (~6 weeks post-baseline), 3 months post-discharge]
- Participant Feedback Questionnaire [3 months post-discharge]
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Primary diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder according to ICD-10 (F43.1), and DSM-5 (as assessed via Clinician Adminstered PTSD Scale for DSM-5)
-
motivated and willing to take part in the study (including questionnaire measures, computer training, filling out questionnaires after discharge)
-
aged 18-60 years, male or female
-
fluent in German
Exclusion Criteria:
-
Substance abuse/ substance dependence currently or in the past six months
-
active suicidal thoughts or intentions
-
psychotic disorder (past or present)
-
learning disability/ intellectual impairment
-
red-green colour blindness
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Clinic of Ruhr University of Bochum | Bochum | North Rhine-Westphalia | Germany | 44791 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Ruhr University of Bochum
- Daimler und Benz Stiftung
- Technische Universität Dresden
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Marcella L Woud, PhD, Ruhr University of Bochum
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 32-12/14
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- 15-5477