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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
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Information provided by:
Boston University

Study Description
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Brief Summary:
This study will develop a treatment for firefighters experiencing symptoms of acute stress disorder (ASD). Effective treatments may reduce immediate symptoms and prevent the development of more chronic conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy Behavioral: Psychoeducation Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

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 Design
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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

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Arms and Interventions
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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


Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Accute stress disorder symptoms [ Time Frame: Measured pre- and post-treatment and at follow-up assessments 1 and 3 months after the intervention ]

Eligibility Criteria
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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
Criteria

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
Contacts and Locations
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

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


Locations
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United States, Massachusetts
Boston Veterans Healthcare System
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
Sponsors and Collaborators
Boston University
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Rose T. Zimering, PhD Boston Veterans Healthcare System
More Information
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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
Keywords provided by Boston University:
PTSD
Occupational Health
Trauma
Job
CBT
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Stress Disorders, Traumatic
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute
Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
Mental Disorders