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A Comparison of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Versus Present Centered Therapy (PCT) for Veterans

This study is ongoing, but not recruiting participants.
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Department of Veterans Affairs
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00607815
First received: February 4, 2008
Last updated: March 12, 2013
Last verified: March 2013
History of Changes
  Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) versus Present Centered Therapy (PCT) for male OEF/OIF veterans with combat related PTSD.


Condition Intervention
PTSD
 Behavioral: Cognitive Processing Therapy
Behavioral: Present Centered Therapy

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: A Comparison of CPT vs PCT for Veterans

Further study details as provided by Department of Veterans Affairs:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Clinician Administered PTSD Scale and PCL [ Time Frame: Reduction in symptoms at the end of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Depression [ Time Frame: Reduction in symptoms at the end of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 47
Study Start Date: June 2009
Estimated Study Completion Date: March 2014
Estimated Primary Completion Date: February 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Active Comparator: Arm 1
Cognitive Processing Therapy
 Behavioral: Cognitive Processing Therapy
CPT is a highly structured protocol in which the client learns the skill of recognizing and challenging dysfunctional cognitions, first about the worst traumatic event and then later with regard to the meaning of the events for current beliefs about self and others.
Active Comparator: Arm 2
Present Centered Therapy
 Behavioral: Present Centered Therapy
Present centered therapy is a supportive counseling model developed by Drs. Foa and Shea. The treatment is called "present centered therapy" to 1) emphasize the need to focus on the participant's current life and 2) to conceptualize the problems as being caused by PTSD, and in some cases they may have been present for a long period of time. The treatment makes a connection between PTSD and current problems thus making it a more realistic PTSD treatment and still allowing PCT to control for nonspecific therapeutic factors

Detailed Description:

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) versus Present Centered Therapy (PCT) for male OEF/OIF veterans with combat related PTSD.

CPT has been shown to be effective in treating trauma survivors in several treatment outcome studies, but utility with veterans has only been examined with male veterans in one small pilot study. In addition CPT has never been compared to a treatment as usual or supportive psychotherapy condition to control for the specific and nonspecific elements of treatment. Although Cognitive Processing Therapy is one of the main treatment modalities at several VA's, including Cincinnati, it has never been compared to PCT, nor has it been used in a large, randomized study of male OEF/OIF veterans. It is hypothesized that individual receiving CPT will show a larger reduction in posttraumatic stress disorder and related symptoms than those individuals receiving PCT.

All male OEF/OIF veterans will be screened for their appropriateness for the study by phone screen and then by an assessment technician. The veteran will be assessed at pre, post, 3-month, and 1-year follow-up. The veteran will be paid $50 for each assessment. The assessment technicians will be blind to the participant's condition. CPT is a 12 week long individual psychotherapy treatment shown to be effective at reducing PTSD and related symptoms for survivors of various types of traumas, including combat. PCT is a supportive counseling treatment that has been utilized as an alternative to waitlist control in VA cooperative studies of PTSD.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 75 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Male
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • PTSD;
  • memory of the trauma;
  • able to read/write;
  • must be stable on medication for 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Psychosis;
  • suicidal/homicidal intent;
  • alcohol/substance dependence;
  • no memory of the trauma
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00607815

Locations
United States, Ohio
VA Medical Center, Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45220
Sponsors and Collaborators
Department of Veterans Affairs
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Kathleen Chard, PhD Cincinnati VA Medical Center
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Department of Veterans Affairs
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00607815     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: MHBA-007-07F
Study First Received: February 4, 2008
Last Updated: March 12, 2013
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by Department of Veterans Affairs:
PTSD
OEF/OIF
Combat
Treatment
 CPT
PCT
Cognitive

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorders, Traumatic
Anxiety Disorders
Mental Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 18, 2013