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Sippel LM, Wachsman TR, Kelley ME, Knopp KC, Khalifian CE, Maglione JE, Glynn SM, Macdonald A, Monson CM, Flanagan JC, Holtzheimer PE, Morland LA. Design of a randomized clinical trial of brief couple therapy for PTSD augmented with intranasal oxytocin. Contemp Clin Trials 2024; 141:107534. [PMID: 38614447 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leveraging military veterans' intimate relationships during treatment has the potential to concurrently improve posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and relationship quality. Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) and an 8-session Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (bCBCT) are manualized treatments designed to simultaneously improve PTSD and relationship functioning for couples in which one partner has PTSD. Although efficacious in improving PTSD, the effects of CBCT on relationship satisfaction are small, especially among veterans. Intranasal oxytocin, which targets mechanisms of PTSD and relationship quality, may enhance the efficacy of bCBCT. METHOD/DESIGN The purpose of this 4-year clinical trial is to compare the outcomes of bCBCT augmented with intranasal oxytocin versus bCBCT plus placebo. We will also explore potential mechanisms of action: self-reported communication skills, empathy, and trust. We will recruit 120 dyads (i.e., veteran with PTSD and their intimate partner) from the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Veterans will be administered 40 international units of oxytocin (n = 60) or placebo (n = 60) 30 min before each of 8 bCBCT sessions delivered via telehealth. Clinical and functioning outcomes will be assessed at five timepoints (baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3- and 6-month follow-up). CONCLUSION Study findings will reveal the efficacy of oxytocin-assisted brief couple therapy for PTSD, which could serve as highly scalable option for couples coping with PTSD, as well as provide preliminary evidence of interpersonal mechanisms of change. CLINICALTRIALS govIdentifier:NCT06194851.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Sippel
- Department of Veterans Affairs Northeast Program Evaluation Center, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Rope Ferry Road, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD Evaluation Division, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, USA.
| | - Tamara R Wachsman
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
| | - Mary E Kelley
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD Executive Division, 215 North Main St., White River Junction, VT 05009, USA.
| | - Kayla C Knopp
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CT 92093, USA.
| | - Chandra E Khalifian
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CT 92093, USA.
| | - Jeanne E Maglione
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CT 92093, USA.
| | - Shirley M Glynn
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA; Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
| | - Alexandra Macdonald
- The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409, USA.
| | - Candice M Monson
- Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada.
| | - Julianne C Flanagan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, SC 29401, USA.
| | - Paul E Holtzheimer
- Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Rope Ferry Road, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD Executive Division, 215 North Main St., White River Junction, VT 05009, USA.
| | - Leslie A Morland
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD Women's Health Sciences Division, 150 South Huntington Street, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
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Marchand WR, Smith J, Nazarenko E, Joubert K, Black H, Osborne M, Andersen S, Bell K, Baldwin S, Klinger W, Connelly H, Sheppard S, Hoopes K. A Pilot Replication Study of Implementing an Equine-Assisted Services Program Within a VA Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program. Mil Med 2024; 189:e220-e226. [PMID: 37522743 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usad274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Veterans have high rates of substance use disorders and other mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder. Effective treatments for these conditions exist; however, high attrition rates and residual symptoms after completing treatment are common. Complementary treatment approaches could enhance treatment engagement and/or response among this population. We previously reported a study of one such intervention, an equine-assisted learning, and psychotherapy incorporating horses intervention provided to veterans admitted to a Veterans Health Care Administration residential substance abuse treatment program. The first aim of this study was to replicate the previous study assessing the safety, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes of this intervention. The second aim was to examine the effect of participants attending multiple intervention sessions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Participants were 94 veterans who participated in one to six sessions of a 3-4-hour program consisting of both equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy incorporating horses. Pre- and post-session administration of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Craving Experience Questionnaire was utilized to assess changes in affect, anxiety, and craving. Wilcoxon signed-rank or paired two-tailed t-tests were utilized for pre- to post-session comparisons of the outcome measures for sessions 1-4. Generalized linear mixed-effects (GLME) models were constructed to determine the impact of dosage. GLME models were constructed to determine the impact of dosage. RESULTS As with our previous study, the intervention was safe and feasible to utilize for this population. There were statistically significant pre- to post-session improvements, with medium-to-large effect sizes, for sessions 1-3 for negative affect and sessions 1 and 2 for positive affect, anxiety, and craving. The GLME models revealed no statistical significance for any of the predictors. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, this study and our previous investigation of this equine-assisted services intervention suggest that it is safe and feasible to utilize for veterans admitted to a residential substance abuse treatment program and we have now found short-term benefits in two separate studies. Thus, a randomized controlled trial of this intervention is warranted to demonstrate cause and effect and determine whether longer-term benefits are associated with the intervention. The finding that there was no additional benefit from attendance at more than two intervention sessions suggests that dose-response relationship studies of equine-assisted services interventions for veterans are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Marchand
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship Site, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Judy Smith
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Elena Nazarenko
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship Site, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Katryna Joubert
- Mental Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Heather Black
- Mental Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Makenna Osborne
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Sarah Andersen
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Kylie Bell
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Shannon Baldwin
- Mental Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - William Klinger
- Mental Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Heather Connelly
- Mental Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Stephen Sheppard
- Mental Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Karl Hoopes
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
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Merz T, McCook O, Denoix N, Radermacher P, Waller C, Kapapa T. Biological Connection of Psychological Stress and Polytrauma under Intensive Care: The Role of Oxytocin and Hydrogen Sulfide. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9192. [PMID: 34502097 PMCID: PMC8430789 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper explored the potential mediating role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and the oxytocin (OT) systems in hemorrhagic shock (HS) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Morbidity and mortality after trauma mainly depend on the presence of HS and/or TBI. Rapid "repayment of the O2 debt" and prevention of brain tissue hypoxia are cornerstones of the management of both HS and TBI. Restoring tissue perfusion, however, generates an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury due to the formation of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species. Moreover, pre-existing-medical-conditions (PEMC's) can aggravate the occurrence and severity of complications after trauma. In addition to the "classic" chronic diseases (of cardiovascular or metabolic origin), there is growing awareness of psychological PEMC's, e.g., early life stress (ELS) increases the predisposition to develop post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) and trauma patients with TBI show a significantly higher incidence of PTSD than patients without TBI. In fact, ELS is known to contribute to the developmental origins of cardiovascular disease. The neurotransmitter H2S is not only essential for the neuroendocrine stress response, but is also a promising therapeutic target in the prevention of chronic diseases induced by ELS. The neuroendocrine hormone OT has fundamental importance for brain development and social behavior, and, thus, is implicated in resilience or vulnerability to traumatic events. OT and H2S have been shown to interact in physical and psychological trauma and could, thus, be therapeutic targets to mitigate the acute post-traumatic effects of chronic PEMC's. OT and H2S both share anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and vasoactive properties; through the reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) pathway, where their signaling mechanisms converge, they act via the regulation of nitric oxide (NO).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Merz
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, Medical Center, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (T.M.); (N.D.); (P.R.)
| | - Oscar McCook
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, Medical Center, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (T.M.); (N.D.); (P.R.)
| | - Nicole Denoix
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, Medical Center, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (T.M.); (N.D.); (P.R.)
- Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter Radermacher
- Institute for Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, Medical Center, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (T.M.); (N.D.); (P.R.)
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany;
| | - Thomas Kapapa
- Clinic for Neurosurgery, Medical Center, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany;
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Marchand WR, Andersen SJ, Smith JE, Hoopes KH, Carlson JK. Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Current State, Challenges and Future Directions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 5:2470547021991556. [PMID: 33644617 PMCID: PMC7890715 DOI: 10.1177/2470547021991556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder is common among military Veterans. While effective treatments exist, many Veterans either do not engage in treatment or fail to achieve full remission. Thus, there is a need to develop adjunctive complementary interventions to enhance treatment engagement and/or response. Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) are one category of animal assisted interventions that might serve this function. The aim of this article is to review the current state and challenges regarding the use of EAAT for Veterans with PTSD and provide a roadmap to move the field forward. EAAT hold promise as adjunctive complementary interventions for symptom reduction among Veterans with PTSD. Additionally, there is evidence that these approaches may enhance wellbeing in this population. At this time, many gaps in the literature exist and rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn. The authors of this work provide recommendations as a roadmap to move the field forward. These include standardizing the EAAT nomenclature, focusing mechanism of action studies on the human-horse bond using biological metrics and using a standardized intervention model across studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Marchand
- Whole Health Flagship Site Located at VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Sarah J Andersen
- Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Judy E Smith
- Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Karl H Hoopes
- Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Jennifer K Carlson
- Whole Health Flagship Site Located at VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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