Behavioral Treatments for Acute Stress Disorder In Firefighters
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00183508 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : September 16, 2005
Last Update Posted : December 14, 2015
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic | Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy Behavioral: Psychoeducation | Not Applicable |
Exposure to traumatic events has reached unprecedented proportions in American society, and the rates of PTSD have risen significantly, particularly among populations with repetitive exposure to critical incidents. The continued threat of attacks against Americans warrants development of preventive interventions to reduce the occurrence of PTSD and its precursor, ASD. This study will determine the effectiveness of a preventive treatment in urban firefighters who have experienced a traumatic event.
Firefighters will undergo an initial assessment that will include an interview and self-report questionnaires to measure depression, anxiety, coping skills, social support, physical health, and work functioning. Following the occurrence of a traumatic work-related event, firefighters will be reassessed. The post-incident assessment will consist of self-report questionnaires that assess ASD symptoms.
Participants who display ASD symptoms will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the first group will learn cognitive behavioral strategies for symptom reduction, and the second group will receive psychoeducation regarding common reactions to traumatic events. Participants' treatment will last for 12 weeks. Participants will have follow-up assessments 1 and 3 months after the interventional part of the study. Assessments will include clinical scales and interviews.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 169 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Developing Group Treatments for Acute Stress Disorder |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2005 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | May 2009 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: 1 Cognitive behavioral therapy |
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy
Participants will learn cognitive behavioral strategies for symptom reduction |
Experimental: 2 Psychoeducation |
Behavioral: Psychoeducation
Participants will receive psychoeducation regarding common reactions to traumatic events |
- Accute stress disorder symptoms [ Time Frame: Measured pre- and post-treatment and at follow-up assessments 1 and 3 months after the intervention ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 21 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Currently an active duty, nonofficer member of a Boston area fire department
- Willing and able to comply with all study requirements
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnancy or plan to become pregnant during the study
- Plan to relocate within 2 months of study entry
- Psychotic symptoms within 30 days prior to study entry
- Experiencing severe depression at study entry OR having suicidal thoughts within 30 days prior to study entry
- Evidence of severe organic impairment that would interfere with participation in the study
- Current alcohol or substance dependence
- Currently awaiting outcome of a court case involving exposure to traumatic events through the fire department

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00183508
United States, Massachusetts | |
Boston Veterans Healthcare System | |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114 |
Principal Investigator: | Rose T. Zimering, PhD | Boston Veterans Healthcare System |
Responsible Party: | Rose T. Zimering, PhD, Boston Veterans Healthcare System |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00183508 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
R21MH064584 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) R21MH064584 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) DATR AD-TS |
First Posted: | September 16, 2005 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | December 14, 2015 |
Last Verified: | December 2015 |
PTSD Occupational Health Trauma Job CBT |
Stress Disorders, Traumatic Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Mental Disorders |