Acceptability and Feasibility of Apollo Wearable System, Tuned Vibroacoustic Stimulation (TVS) in Veterans With a History of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 63
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Acceptability via Credibility Scale
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The proposed investigation is an open label pilot study intended to establish the acceptability and feasibility of the Apollo in a population of Veterans. Exploratory data regarding biological signatures will also be collected.
Detailed Description
Evaluation of Apollo requires a stepwise process in which initial aims are geared towards identifying biological signatures versus diagnosing, treating, mitigating or curing any conditions. Towards the end of identifying potential biological signatures, we hypothesize the following. 1) Participants who use the Apollo will have an attenuated physiological stress response as measured by improved heart rate variability (HRV) compared to baseline. 2) Participants who use Apollo will have attenuated perceived psychological stress measured by lower scores on psychological correlates of acute stress when compared to baseline
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Veterans eligible to receive care by a VA provider
- •History of at least one deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND)
- •Current diagnosis of PTSD per the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-5 (CAPS-5)
- •Willingness to wear the Apollo daily and to comply with study protocol
- •Android or Apple smart phone on which the participant can download the Apollo mobile app
- •Age between 18 and 65
- •Ability to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Inability to adequately respond to questions regarding the informed consent procedure
- •Currently involved in the criminal justice system as a prisoner or ward of the state
- •Current (past month) alcohol or substance abuse or dependence
- •Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, or delusional disorders
- •Lifetime history of oppositional defiant disorder or anti-social personality disorder
- •Recent medication changes in the past 4 weeks
- •A current beta blocker prescription (other than prazosin)
- •Active untreated visual impairment
Arms & Interventions
Single Arm- Apollo Wearable System
Apollo Device TVS (10-200 Hz) attached to the subject's wrist or ankle via a commercially available wearable vibration technology can deliver TVS (Transcutaneous Vibratory Stimulation). The intensity will be targeted for the sensory threshold (the level at which the vibration is just noticeable) as this is where the TVS seems to be most effective from prior studies. Similar vibratory stimuli have been demonstrated to be safe in the literature.10-14 The intensity of the vibration will be adjusted to the subjects' comfort and can be controlled by the subject at any time.
Intervention: Apollo Wearable System (Device)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Acceptability via Credibility Scale
Time Frame: 6 +/- 2 weeks
The Credibility Scale is a three-item questionnaire that will be used to assess patients' sense of the Apollo Wearable Device credibility.
Acceptability via Expectancy Scale
Time Frame: 6 +/- 2 weeks
The Credibility Scale is a two-item questionnaire that will be used to assess patients' expectations of the Apollo Wearable Device.
Acceptability via Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)
Time Frame: 6 +/- 2 weeks
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) is an eight-item questionnaire that will be used to assess patients' satisfaction with the intervention. The CSQ has good reliability and validity and has frequently been used to evaluate community mental health care.
Feasibility via Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)
Time Frame: 6 +/- 2 weeks
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) is an eight-item questionnaire that will be used to assess patients' satisfaction with the intervention. The CSQ has good reliability and validity and has frequently been used to evaluate community mental health care.
Acceptability via Narrative Evaluation of Intervention Interview (NEII)
Time Frame: 6 +/- 2 weeks
Narrative Evaluation of Intervention Interview (NEII) is a 16-item semi-structured interview that is designed to help participants evaluate and describe the process and outcome of an intervention.
Feasibility via Credibility Scale
Time Frame: 6 +/- 2 weeks
The Credibility Scale is a three-item questionnaire that will be used to assess patients' sense of the Apollo Wearable Device credibility.
Feasibility via Narrative Evaluation of Intervention Interview (NEII)
Time Frame: 6 +/- 2 weeks
Feasibility will be aNarrative Evaluation of Intervention Interview (NEII) is a 16-item semi-structured interview that is designed to help participants evaluate and describe the process and outcome of an intervention. ssessed using the Credibility/Expectancy Scales, Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ), and the Narrative Evaluation of Intervention Interview (NEII).
Feasibility via via Expectancy Scale
Time Frame: 6 +/- 2 weeks
The Credibility Scale is a two-item questionnaire that will be used to assess patients' expectations of the Apollo Wearable Device.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Lisa Brenner
Director, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System