NCT07840417 Deep Brain Reorienting for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
| NCT ID | NCT07840417 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Alberta |
| Condition | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 50 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-09-21 |
| Primary Completion | 2028-01 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 50 participants in total. It began in 2026-09-21 with a primary completion date of 2028-01.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) works to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in military veterans. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does DBR lower PTSD symptoms compared with treatment as usual? * Do PTSD symptoms stay lower three months after treatment? Researchers will compare waitlist to see if DBR works to treat PTSD. Participants will: * Receive eight DBR sessions, each lasting about 50 minutes * Answer questions before and after treatment and 3 months later * Complete short questionnaires before and after each session * Complete an interview about their experience of DBR
Eligibility Criteria
Stream 1: Military Veterans receiving the DBR Intervention: Inclusion Criteria * 18 to 65 years old * Current or former military member / Veteran (for Stream 1 only) * DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis determined via the CAPS-5 * If on psychiatric medications: stable ≥ 4 weeks * Fluent in English * Ability to provide informed consent and participate in therapy sessions * Able to benefit from short-term therapy, as determined by study assessment Exclusion Criteria * High-risk clinical state (e.g., suicidal or homicidal intent; substance withdrawal) requiring acute intervention. * History of moderate to severe head or brain injury leading to impaired functioning (e.g., a Glasgow Coma Scale Score \< 15 at the time of incident assessed retrospectively by participant; sustained loss of consciousness leading to impaired functioning) * Cognitive impairment limiting informed consent * Significant untreated medical illness * History of neurological disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, bipolar or psychotic disorder * Alcohol/substance use problems within the last 3 months requiring medical withdrawal or likely to interfere with therapy. * Degree of mental distress that is unlikely to benefit from a short-term therapy (for our participant's well-being, it will be necessary that we believe it possible to safely address the issues/triggers brought up in treatment within the 8 sessions). * Any condition that, in the clinical opinion of study psychiatrists or clinicians, would make psychotherapy ineffective or unsafe, or that would interfere with study engagement and completion (e.g., homeless, ongoing psychosocial crisis, etc). Other considerations: Participants will be asked not to start any new PTSD treatments (medications or psychotherapy) 4 weeks prior to study enrollment and until study participation is complete. If already taking psychiatric medications, doses must be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to enrolling in the study, and remain stable until study completion. Participants in DBR stream must be able and willing to pause other trauma-focused psychotherapies (e.g., CPT, EMDR, exposure therapy) while receiving DBR in the study. Non-trauma focused therapies (e.g. CBT) or supportive talk with a therapist may continue. We are currently actively recruiting participants for Stream 1 only, exclusively military veterans.
Contact & Investigator
Olga Winkler (Psychiatrist and Associate Clinical Professor), MD, FRCPC
✉ mindlab@ualberta.ca📞 780-342-5635
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07840417 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 65 Years, studying Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07840417 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07840417 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at mindlab@ualberta.ca for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07840417 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Edmonton, Canada.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07840417 clinical trial?
NCT07840417 is sponsored by University of Alberta. The trial plans to enroll 50 participants.
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