Advanced Wireless Augmented Reality-Enhanced Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Date Added
June 4th, 2024
PRO Number
Pro00135785
Researcher
Ronald Acierno

List of Studies

Keywords
Anxiety, Mental Health, Military, Stress Disorders
Summary

The purpose of this study is to get feedback on an existing augmented reality (AR) software developed by researchers at Wayne State University (phase I) and then use the refined software, along with Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy to treat Veterans and military personnel with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

AR involves wearing goggles through which you can see the real world, however virtual objects can be added to the environment (for example, like in the popular phone game Pokemon Go).

The technology was originally designed to help first responders, specifically police and firefighters, to overcome their avoidance of normal life situations caused by their trauma experience and PTSD. This includes a crowded party, a grocery store, a police roll call room and a fire station. This technology is now being expanded to include other common scenarios that military personnel and Veterans with PTSD may avoid.

This study will occur in 2 phases. Phase 1 will focus on getting feedback on the AR program from people who have completed PE therapy before to refine the technology. In phase 2, 40 Veterans and military personnel will be randomly selected to receive PTSD therapy + the refined AR technology or PE therapy alone.

This study is open to Veterans and active duty military personnel. All study activities will take place at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System and surrounding community-based outpatient clinics. This study is not open to civilians/non military personnel at this time.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Stephanie Hart
843-789-6519
zeigls@musc.edu

Comparative Effectiveness of Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy vs TAU for Adjustment Disorder Following Traumatic Event Exposure

Date Added
March 5th, 2024
PRO Number
Pro00134707
Researcher
Ronald Acierno

List of Studies

Keywords
Mental Health, Military, Psychiatry
Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a treatment called Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy (TBT) for reducing symptoms of adjustment disorder compared to the standard treatment, or treatment as usual (TAU) for adjustment disorder called Moving Forward Problem-Solving Therapy (TAU-PST).

Participants will be randomly selected to receive 10-14 weekly sessions of TBT or TAU-PST with a licensed therapist.

This study is open to Veterans and Active-Duty service personnel in the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System catchment area (including Savannah, Myrtle Beach, Hinesville and Beaufort community-based outpatient clinics).

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Stephanie Hart
843-789-6519
zeigls@musc.edu

Rehabilitation Research Repository

Date Added
January 9th, 2024
PRO Number
Pro00130594
Researcher
Brian Cence

List of Studies

Keywords
Military, Rehabilitation Studies, Spinal Cord, Stroke, Stroke Recovery, Weight Control
Summary

VA Principal Investigators plan to gather information about veterans at the VAHCS who are interested in participating in rehabilitation research. Subject information collected will be housed in a centralized Rehabilitation Research Repository. VAHCS investigators may access this repository to quickly identify and recruit individuals who wish to be contacted for current and future VA IRB R&D approved rehabilitation research.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Brian Cence
843-765-6921
brian.cence@va.gov

Military Suicide Prevention Intervention Research (MSPIRE)

Date Added
April 4th, 2023
PRO Number
Pro00126830
Researcher
Ronald Acierno

List of Studies

Keywords
Military, Suicide
Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two psychological treatments for the reduction of suicide attempts among U.S. military personnel and veterans, and to identify the reasons why and how these treatments work.

Specifically, this study is looking at the efficacy of two interventions. The first intervention is Present Centered Therapy (PCT). This treatment has been shown to reduce depression, PTSD symptoms, and suicidal thoughts. The second intervention is Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT). This treatment has also been shown to reduce depression, PTSD symptoms, and suicidal thoughts.

Both treatments involve a total of 12-16 sessions scheduled once or twice each week. Patients who have received either treatment have reported significant reductions in suicidal thoughts and psychological symptoms. These two treatments differ from each other with respect to the specific procedures and techniques used. The purpose of this study is to determine if one treatment works better than the other, or if they are equal to each other with respect to outcomes.

This study is only open to Veterans at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System and CBOCs or active duty military personnel in the Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA areas.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Stephanie Hart
843-789-6519
zeigls@musc.edu

An Electrophysiological Predictor of SSRI Response in Veterans with PTSD

Date Added
April 4th, 2023
PRO Number
Pro00124873
Researcher
Zhewu Wang

List of Studies


Keywords
Mental Health, Military, Psychiatry
Summary

By doing this study, we hope to learn if a brief screening method can predict which people are most likely to show a positive response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications. This brief screening method involves using electrodes attached to your scalp via a cap, to measure electrical brain activity in response to a series of loud tones.
Your participation in this research will last about 17-21 weeks if you decide to stay for the whole study.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Erica Cortes
843-829-2110 xt 1011
erica.cortes@va.gov

Psychometric Examination of a Computer Adaptive Measure of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Date Added
March 18th, 2023
PRO Number
Pro00124611
Researcher
Ronald Acierno

List of Studies

Keywords
Military
Summary

Researchers recently developed two new, computer-administered, brief questionnaire assessments of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study is to determine if these new assessments are accurate by comparing them with existing assessments for PTSD. To do this, we plan to administer the new questionnaires, existing questionnaires, and interview questions to 350 veterans with and without PTSD.

Veterans will be recruited from the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System and Savannah CBOC.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Stephanie Hart
843-789-6519
zeigls@musc.edu