Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A traumatic event defined as exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence that is either directly experienced, witnessed, learned about the occurrence to a loved one, or extreme or repeated exposure to aversive details through work (ie, first responders, nurses, etc.). In addition to increased risk for mortality, PTSD also has a significant impact on how patients feel and function. Post traumatic stress disorder impacts all aspects of patients’ lives including negative impacts on work, school, relationships, housing, legal problems, financial problems and an overall increase in healthcare utilization and healthcare costs.
Due to limited efficacy of approved medications, many providers turn to simultaneous use of multiple drugs and off-label use of medications in order to address the range of debilitating symptoms that comprise PTSD. Benefits to participants include the potential to receive a therapy, which may alleviate symptoms of PTSD, contribute to the development of new therapeutics in PTSD, as well as receiving comprehensive physical examinations and clinical monitoring.
Volunteers may qualify if they are:
- between the ages of 18-70 years old
- Are experiencing symptoms of PTSD due to a traumatic event that occurred in your adult life (after age 18)
- Ongoing exposure to a traumatic event or exposure to a traumatic event.
- Able to visit our study center a total of 10 times over an approximate 4-month period
- Willing to refrain from taking antidepressant medications during the course of the study (about 4 months)
- Body Mass Index (BMI) from 18 to 40 kg/m2
PTSD must be the primary diagnosis. Participants with medical diagnoses of major depressive disorder (with the exception of current severe symptoms), persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, obsessive compulsive, or social anxiety disorder, are eligible if PTSD is the primary diagnosis