Combining Stellate Ganglion Block With Prolonged Exposure for PTSD: A Randomized Clinical Trial
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the combination of Massed Prolonged Exposure (PE); a behavioral therapy for PTSD) and a stellate ganglion block (SGB; an injection of a local anesthetic into the front of the neck) with Massed Prolonged Exposure and a sham injection in a sample of military service members or retirees with PTSD. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) Does the addition of an SGB improve treatment outcomes associated with Massed PE and (2) Do differences in psychophysiological arousal during the exposure portion of treatment help explain treatment outcomes for PTSD. Participants will receive ten 90-minute session of Massed PE. Between the first and second Massed PE sessions, half of the participants will receive a SGB, and half will receive a sham SGB.
Description
Massed PE will be conducted by master-level or doctoral-level therapists. Participants will meet with their providers for individual, 90-minute sessions. They will then be asked to complete out-of-session treatment assignments throughout the rest of the day. Between the individual therapy session and out-of-session treatment assignments, participants will engage in approximately four to six hours of treatment per day, Monday through Friday, for two weeks. Each participant will also be offered three booster sessions at 1-, 3-, and 7-weeks posttreatment. The stellate ganglion block injection or…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Active duty and retired military service members ages 18-65 years 2. PTSD diagnosis as assessed by Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Scale 3. Able to speak and read English (due to standardization of outcome measures) 4. Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)-eligible to receive care at a military treatment facility (MTF) where the stellate ganglion block will be placed. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current suicidal ideation severe enough to warrant immediate attention (as determined by the Depressive Symptoms Index - Suicidality Subscale and the…
Interventions
- DrugRopivacaine injection
6.5cc of Ropivacaine hydrochloride (HCl) 0.5%, one time into the stellate ganglion
- DrugNormal saline
6.5cc of Normal Saline one time into the stellate ganglion.
Locations (2)
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical CenterFort Hood, Texas
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio, Texas