Actively Recruiting
Combining Stellate Ganglion Block With Prolonged Exposure for PTSD
Led by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · Updated on 2025-09-04
140
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
183 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
T
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Lead Sponsor
U
United States Department of Defense
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the combination of Massed Prolonged Exposure (PE); a behavioral therapy for PTSD) and a stellate ganglion block (SGB; an injection of a local anesthetic into the front of the neck) with Massed Prolonged Exposure and a sham injection in a sample of military service members or retirees with PTSD. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) Does the addition of an SGB improve treatment outcomes associated with Massed PE and (2) Do differences in psychophysiological arousal during the exposure portion of treatment help explain treatment outcomes for PTSD. Participants will receive ten 90-minute session of Massed PE. Between the first and second Massed PE sessions, half of the participants will receive a SGB, and half will receive a sham SGB.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Combining Stellate Ganglion Block With Prolonged Exposure for PTSD
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Active duty and retired military service members ages 18-65 years
- PTSD diagnosis as assessed by Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Scale
- Able to speak and read English (due to standardization of outcome measures)
- Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)-eligible to receive care at a military treatment facility (MTF) where the stellate ganglion block will be placed.
You will not qualify if you...
- Current suicidal ideation severe enough to warrant immediate attention as determined by specific assessments and clinical risk evaluation
- Current manic episode or psychotic symptoms requiring immediate stabilization or hospitalization
- Moderate to severe substance use symptoms (including alcohol) requiring immediate intervention
- Other psychiatric disorders severe enough to be the primary disorder
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Current use of anticoagulants
- History of bleeding disorder
- Infection or mass at injection site
- Myocardial infarction within 6 months of procedure
- Pathologic bradycardia or irregular heart rate or rhythm
- Symptomatic hypotension
- Phrenic or laryngeal nerve palsy
- History of glaucoma
- Uncontrolled seizure disorder
- History of allergy to local anesthetics
- Current use of Class III antiarrhythmics
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center
Fort Hood, Texas, United States, 76544
Actively Recruiting
2
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78229
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Amanda Flores
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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