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Effectiveness of a Brief Intensive Trauma Treatment for Adolescents With (s)PTSD: a Multi-center RCT

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: Brief Intensive Trauma Treatment
Registration Number
NCT06143982
Lead Sponsor
Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)
Brief Summary

The primary objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a Brief Intensive Trauma Treatment (BITT) for adolescents with (s)PTSD.

Detailed Description

This study is a multi-center, single-blinded RCT. Adolescents (12-18 years old) with (s)PTSD will be randomly allocated by an independent researcher to the BITT (n=50) versus a waitlist control group (WLCG; n=50), stratified by center. Measurements are done at comparable time intervals for both groups: at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up. The WLCG receives BITT after the 3 months follow-up.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the following criteria:

  • 12-18 years of age;

  • with a history of psychological trauma (conform the Life Events Checklist of the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents DSM-5 (CAPS-CA DSM-5) (Nader, 2004; van Meijel et al., 2019);

  • at least subthreshold PTSD criteria, conform the CAPS-CA DSM-5, i.e.;

    • fully meeting criterion A, F and G and at least one symptom of criteria B, C, D and E;
    • or fully meeting criterion A, F, G and at least the B, C, D or E symptom clusters;
  • and written informed consent must be provided by the adolescent and, for adolescents aged 12-15 years, all legal guardians.

Exclusion Criteria

A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study in case of:

  • inability to speak and write Dutch;
  • estimated or determined mental retardation (IQ <70);
  • suffering from ongoing trauma by a parent who is part of the adolescent's current primary-care system.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Brief Intensive Trauma TreatmentBrief Intensive Trauma TreatmentIf allocated to the intervention group, participants follow the Brief Intensive Trauma Treatment (BITT).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in Posttraumatic stress symptoms (KJTS)PTSD symptoms are measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

The primary objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of BITT versus a WLCG on adolescents (12-18 years) with (s)PTSD. PTSD symptoms will be assessed by the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screening (In Dutch: Kind en Jeugd Trauma Screener (KJTS; Kooij \& Lindauer, 2019). Additionally, the effectiveness of BITT versus regular trauma treatment (i.e., TF-CBT and EMDR) on (s)PTSD symptoms will be tested.

Changes in Posttraumatic stress symptoms (CAPS-CA)PTSD symptoms are measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

The primary objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of BITT versus a WLCG on adolescents (12-18 years) with (s)PTSD. PTSD symptoms will be assessed by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents DSM-5 (CAPS-CA DSM 5; Van Meijel et al., 2013). Additionally, the effectiveness of BITT versus regular trauma treatment (i.e., TF-CBT and EMDR) on (s)PTSD symptoms will be tested.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in Anxiety symptoms (SCID-5-Junior)Anxiety symptoms are measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

Anxiety symptoms will also be measures with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Childhood Disorders (SCID-5 Junior; Module 6 Anxiety disorder; Wante et al., 2020). The SCID-5 module will be administered when the adolescent scores T ≥ 60 on the PROMIS questionnaire.

Changes in Quality of lifeQuality of life is measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

The fifth objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of BITT versus a WLCG on quality of life. Quality of life will be measures with the EuroQol-5D (EuroQol-Group, 2009). Additionally, the effectiveness of BITT versus regular trauma treatment (i.e., TF-CBT and EMDR) on quality of life will be tested.

Changes in Depression symptoms (SCID-5-Junior)Depression symptoms are measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

Depression symptoms will also be measures with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Childhood Disorders (SCID-5 Junior; Module 3 Depressive mood disorders; Wante et al., 2020). The SCID-5 module will be administered when the adolescent scores T ≥ 60 on the PROMIS questionnaire.

Dropout ratesDropout is measures at each day of the BITT week (in total 5 days).

The seventh objective is to examine if BITT leads to less drop out rates. Drop outs will be documented in an Excel file (yes/no).

Changes in Anxiety symptoms (PROMIS)Anxiety symptoms are measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

The third objective is to test the effectiveness of BITT versus a WLCG on anxiety symptoms. Anxiety symptoms will be measures with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS; Terwee et al., 2014). Additionally, the effectiveness of BITT versus regular trauma treatment (i.e., TF-CBT and EMDR) on anxiety will be tested.

Changes in Depression symptoms (PROMIS)Depression symptoms are measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

The fourth objective is to test the effectiveness of BITT versus a WLCG on depression symptoms. Depression symptoms will be measures with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS; Terwee et al., 2014). Additionally, the effectiveness of BITT versus regular trauma treatment (i.e., TF-CBT and EMDR) depression symptoms will be tested.

Changes in Risk-behavior and safetyRisk-behavior and safety is measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

The sixth objective is to test if BITT is a safe intervention. This will be measured with a risk-behavior and safety questionnaire based on previous work by Hendriks et al. (2017) regarding: self-harm, suicidality and aggressive behavior.

Cost-effectivenessCost-effectiveness is measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

The eighth objective is to examine the cost-effectiveness of BITT. Cost-effectiveness will be measured with the Treatment Inventory of Costs in Psychiatric clients (TiC-PY/proxy) (Bouwmans et al., 2012).

Changes in Anger symptoms (PROMIS)Anger symptoms are measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

The second objective is to test the effectiveness of BITT versus a WLCG on anger symptoms. Anger symptoms will be measures with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS; Terwee et al., 2014). Additionally, the effectiveness of BITT versus regular trauma treatment (i.e., TF-CBT and EMDR) on anger will be tested.

Changes in Anger symptoms (SCID-5 Junior)Anger symptoms are measured at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up.

Anger symptoms will also be measures with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Childhood Disorders (SCID-5 Junior; module 12 Disruptive, impulse control and other behavioral disorders; Wante et al., 2020). The SCID-5 module will be administered when the adolescent scores T ≥ 60 on the PROMIS questionnaire.

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Mental Health Caribbean

🇧🇶

Kralendijk, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Amsterdam UMC, location AMC/Levvel

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Karakter

🇳🇱

Almelo, Overijsel, Netherlands

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