Reversal of Battle-Related Aging (ROBRA) in a Special Operations Forces Cohort

Sponsor
Stella Center (Other)
Overall Status
Active, not recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT05855876
Collaborator
(none)
20
1
12
1.7

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine measures of GrimAge clock in SOF members undergoing treatment for PTSD/TBI using CSB.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Procedure: subanesthetic ketamine infusions and bilateral cervical sympathetic blocks

Detailed Description

The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of a combined protocol of subanesthetic ketamine infusions (SKI) and bilateral cervical sympathetic blocks (CSB) on aging, as measured by the GrimAge epigenetic clock.

The secondary objective of this study is to assess the impact of this treatment paradigm on PTSD and mental health, as measured over a 6 month time period using the following questionnaires: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), and Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI).

The tertiary objectives of the study are to investigate if PTSD is associated with significantly reduced free testosterone levels and increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

Study Design

Study Type:
Observational
Anticipated Enrollment :
20 participants
Observational Model:
Cohort
Time Perspective:
Prospective
Official Title:
Reversal of Battle-Related Aging (ROBRA) in a Special Operations Forces Cohort
Actual Study Start Date :
Apr 5, 2023
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Apr 5, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Apr 5, 2024

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Change from baseline in Epigenetic Aging at 15 days [day 15]

    GrimAge epigenetic clock tool to assess DNA methylation

  2. Change from baseline in Epigenetic Aging at 90 days [day 90]

    GrimAge epigenetic clock tool to assess DNA methylation

  3. Change from baseline in Epigenetic Aging at 180 days [day 180]

    GrimAge epigenetic clock tool to assess DNA methylation

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Change from baseline in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms at 15 days [day 15]

    Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), a 20-item self-report measure yielding a total symptom severity score between 0 and 80.

  2. Change from baseline in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms at 90 days [day 90]

    Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), a 20-item self-report measure yielding a total symptom severity score between 0 and 80.

  3. Change from baseline in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms at 180 days [day 180]

    Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), a 20-item self-report measure yielding a total symptom severity score between 0 and 80.

  4. Change from baseline in Depression at 15 days [day 15]

    Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), a 9-item self-report measure yielding a depression severity score between 0 and 27.

  5. Change from baseline in Depression at 90 days [day 90]

    Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), a 9-item self-report measure yielding a depression severity score between 0 and 27.

  6. Change from baseline in Depression at 180 days [day 180]

    Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), a 9-item self-report measure yielding a depression severity score between 0 and 27.

  7. Change from baseline in Suicidal Ideation at 15 days [day 15]

    Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS), a 4-item self-report measure yielding a suicidal ideation severity score between 0 and 12.

  8. Change from baseline in Suicidal Ideation at 90 days [day 90]

    Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS), a 4-item self-report measure yielding a suicidal ideation severity score between 0 and 12.

  9. Change from baseline in Suicidal Ideation at 180 days [day 180]

    Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS), a 4-item self-report measure yielding a suicidal ideation severity score between 0 and 12.

  10. Change from baseline in Anxiety at 15 days [day 15]

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), a 7-item self-report measure yielding an anxiety severity score between 0 and 21.

  11. Change from baseline in Anxiety at 90 days [day 90]

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), a 7-item self-report measure yielding an anxiety severity score between 0 and 21.

  12. Change from baseline in Anxiety at 180 days [day 180]

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), a 7-item self-report measure yielding an anxiety severity score between 0 and 21.

  13. Change from baseline in Post-Concussion Symptom Severity at 15 days [day 15]

    Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), a 22-item self-report measure yielding a post-concussion symptom severity score between 0 and 88.

  14. Change from baseline in Post-Concussion Symptom Severity at 90 days [day 90]

    Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), a 22-item self-report measure yielding a post-concussion symptom severity score between 0 and 88.

  15. Change from baseline in Post-Concussion Symptom Severity at 180 days [day 180]

    Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), a 22-item self-report measure yielding a post-concussion symptom severity score between 0 and 88.

  16. Change from baseline in Free testosterone levels at 15 days [day 15]

    Quest diagnostics to measure Free testosterone levels

  17. Change from baseline in Free testosterone levels at 90 days [day 90]

    Quest diagnostics to measure Free testosterone levels

  18. Change from baseline in Free testosterone levels at 180 days [day 180]

    Quest diagnostics to measure Free testosterone levels

  19. Change from baseline in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at 15 days [day 15]

    Quest diagnostics to measure C-reactive protein (CRP) levels

  20. Change from baseline in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at 90 days [day 90]

    Quest diagnostics to measure C-reactive protein (CRP) levels

  21. Change from baseline in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at 180 days [day 180]

    Quest diagnostics to measure C-reactive protein (CRP) levels

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
40 Years to 60 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Recruited from SOF with an active duty history of at least 5 years.

  • Subjects may be in active duty or retired, male and female, between the ages of 40 and 60 years old.

  • The participants must have a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD, identified by Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) scores higher than 40.

  • The participants must have been on a stable pharmacological or psychotherapeutic therapy for at least three months (if applicable), and continue this treatment throughout the duration of the study.

  • They must be able and willing to consent for the study. Individuals who are able to become pregnant must adhere to a medically accepted method of contraception (eg. hormonal birth control, barrier birth control, intrauterine device, abstinence).

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Existing Horner syndrome;

  • Allergy to local anesthetics or contrast;

  • Previous history of stellate ganglion block with psychosis;

  • Admission to in-patient psychiatric facility within last 3 months;

  • History of moderate of severe TBI;

  • Currently pregnant or breastfeeding;

  • Current substance use disorder, or test positive for 1 or more illegal or controlled drugs on the initial urine drug screen, such as cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, opioids, benzodiazepines, amongst others;

  • Previous behavioral health diagnoses (bipolar I, psychosis, etc);

  • Currently undergoing exposure therapy.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Stella Center Westmont Illinois United States 60656

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Stella Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Eugene Lipov, MD, Stella Center

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
Eugene Lipov, Principal Investigator, Stella Center
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT05855876
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • ROBRA
First Posted:
May 12, 2023
Last Update Posted:
May 12, 2023
Last Verified:
May 1, 2023
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.:
No
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of May 12, 2023