Imaginal Exposure & D-Cycloserine (DCS) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2018-02-28
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study proposes to evaluate the effects of D-cycloserine (DCS) combined with
cognitive-behavioral treatment with exposure therapy in a sample of patients who developed
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a consequence of various traumas (e.g., motor vehicle
and accidents, burns and other injuries, combat, World Trade Center attack, etc.). In
addition, this study hopes to determine whether a common human genetic single nucleotide
polymorphism (SNP) in a growth factor, brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF SNP
(Val66Met), predicts treatment response to PTSD.
Patients living in areas that are not geographically proximal to the Weill-Cornell Medical
Center New York City campus will receive cognitive behavioral therapy using telemedicine
(videoconferencing technology).
Overall, this study aims 1) to determine if subjects administered DCS show a significantly
larger decrease in symptoms of PTSD as compared to those administered a placebo, 2) to
determine if subjects administered DCS show a decrease in PTSD symptomatology significantly
earlier (as measured by weeks) than those administered a placebo, 3) to determine if
differences in symptomatology are evident at a 6-month follow-up and indicate long-term
differences between groups, 4) to determine if the BDNF SNP predicts treatment response, 5)to
determine if it is feasible and acceptable to provide imaginal exposure (IE) therapy for PTSD
using videoconferencing technology.