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| Sponsors and Collaborators: |
Hadassah Medical Organization University of Haifa |
|---|---|
| Information provided by: | Hadassah Medical Organization |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00474305 |
Purpose
This study will examine whether the use of a Virtual World will be effective in helping treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is a pilot study, with five victims of bus bombings who have developed PTSD. The study will examine pre- and post-treatment levels of PTSD, anxiety, depression and day-to-day functioning.
| Condition | Intervention |
|---|---|
|
PTSD |
Behavioral: Virtual Reality Treatment for PTSD |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Treatment, Open Label, Uncontrolled, Single Group Assignment, Efficacy Study |
| Official Title: | Effectiveness of Virtual Reality for Persons With PTSD Following a Bus Bombing |
| Estimated Enrollment: | 5 |
| Study Start Date: | December 2007 |
| Estimated Study Completion Date: | December 2008 |
PTSD can be a long-term debilitating psychiatric problem, occurring following exposure to a traumatic event. Recent studies have shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is effective in the treatment of PTSD. More specifically, a protocol called Prolonged Exposure, where the patient is gradually exposed to feared stimuli, along with building a narrative of the traumatic event, has been shown to reduce PTSD and depression symptoms, both at the end of therapy (9-12 weeks) and at long term follow up.
Despite this success, some patients do not show symptom reduction with this therapy. Virtual Reality, where a real-time virtual world is created, has been successfully used to treat a variety of fears, from pain management to fear of flying. This technique has also been successfully used with patients who have not benefited from Prolonged Exposure for their PTSD, following 9/11.
This study will examine the use of a virtual reality world that involves a bus bombing. It has been created using different levels of exposure to distressing detail, such that the therapist can control the amount of exposure. The protocol is based on Prolonged Exposure, with the Virtual Reality being used to help the patient build a narrative of the event.
Five patients with PTSD following a bus bombing will be treated. They will be assessed pre and post-treatment for symptoms levels of PTSD, depression, anxiety and daily functioning. The treatment consists of 9 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. Therapy will be supervised, and protocol adherence will be checked by an external therapist. All therapists are trained as supervisors in Prolonged Exposure.
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Contacts and Locations| Contact: Rena Cooper Kazaz, MD | 97226777348 | |
| Contact: Hadas Lemberg, PhD | 97226777572 | lhadas@hadassah.org.il |
| Israel | |
| Hadassah Medical Organization | |
| Jerusalem, Israel, 91120 | |
| Study Director: | Sara A Freedman, PhD | Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel |
More Information
| Study ID Numbers: | VR-PTSD-HMO-CTIL |
| Study First Received: | May 15, 2007 |
| Last Updated: | March 17, 2008 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00474305 History of Changes |
| Health Authority: | Israel: Israeli Health Ministry Pharmaceutical Administration |
|
PTSD Prolonged Exposure Virtual Reality |
|
Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Stress Disorders, Traumatic |
|
Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic |
