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Carvedilol Versus Placebo for Treatment in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Phase 2
Conditions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT01221792
Lead Sponsor
Columbia Northwest Pharmaceuticals
Brief Summary

The investigators hypothesize that carvedilol, at less then therapeutic doses for cardiac effect, will reduce symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Detailed Description

This initial proof of concept trial design is intended to explore multiple variables. Fist, it is intended to determine if carvedilol has any statistically significant effect over placebo on the various overall symptoms, symptom clusters, or individual symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. Next, the flexible dosing trial design is aimed to detect the therapeutic dose, or dosing range for carvedilol when used in the treatment of PTSD

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
80
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder according to DSM-IV
  • Must be able to speak, read and understand the English language and be able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • current, unstable and significant medical condition/illness
  • bronchial asthma or related bronchospastic condition
  • AV block
  • Sick Sinus Syndrome
  • Bradycardia
  • Peripheral hear disease
  • Unstable thyroid disorder
  • History of seizure disorder
  • Females who are pregnant, lactating or planning to become pregnant
  • Bipolar
  • Schizophrenia
  • Dementia
  • Intolerance or hypersensitivity to alpha or beta blockers

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Sugar PillPlaceboPatients randomized to placebo will follow same dosing guidelines as if they were in the active comparator arm, carvedilol.
carvedilolCarvedilolPatients randomized to carvedilol will be administered doses ranging from 6.25 to 15.625 mg/day using a flexible-dosing model. After a 1 week titration, investigators my increase daily dose by 6.25 mg/day at weeks 1 and 2 for a maximum dose of 15.625 mg/day. Weeks 3-4 will patients will remain on a stable, tolerable dose. At week 5 patients will have a 1 week taper.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS)5 weeks

The DTS is a 17-item self report measure to assess the 17 DMS-IV symptoms of PTSD. Respondants are asked to identify the trauma that is most disturbing to them and to rate, in the past week, how much trouble they hav had with each symptom. The DTS can be used to make a preliminatry determination about whether the symptoms meet DSM criteria for PTSD, or scores can be calculated for each of the 3 PTSD symptom clusters.

The DTS will be assessed at each study visit (visit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). The primary efficacy outcome will be change from baseline (visit 2) to week 5 (visit 7).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS)6 Weeks

The CAPS was developed at the National Center for PTSD and has become the "gold standard" for assessing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a user-friendly structured interview for screening, differential diagnosis, comfirming PTSD diagnosis or identifying Acute Stress Disorder.

The CAPS will be assessed at the screening visit and again at week 5 (vist 7). Change scores (from screening to week 5) will be secondary efficacy measures.

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)5 Weeks

The ISI is a 7-item patient rated questionnaire that evaluates severity of sleep onset and maintenance difficulties, satisfaction with current sleep pattern interference with daily functioning, appearance of impairment attributed to the sleep problem, and the degree of concern caused by insomnia.

Secondary outcome measures using the ISI will be determined using change scores from baseline to week 5 (visit 7)

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Lake Charles Clinical Trials

🇺🇸

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States

Artemis Institute for Clinical Research

🇺🇸

San Diego, California, United States

Northwest Clinical Research Center

🇺🇸

Bellevue, Washington, United States

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