Exploring the link between overcontrol and suicide risk in PTSD among Veterans
Pathways to Hope: Pilot fMRI Study of OCPD and Suicide Risk in Trauma-Exposed Veterans
VA Office of Research and Development · NCT06355284
This study looks at how being overly controlling might affect suicidal thoughts in veterans with PTSD to see if there's a connection.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 74 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development (fed) |
| Locations | 1 site (Providence, Rhode Island) |
| Trial ID | NCT06355284 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study investigates the relationship between overcontrol behaviors and suicidal thoughts in Veterans with PTSD and related conditions. It focuses on individuals exhibiting traits of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, particularly how their need for perfection and control affects their social interactions and mental health. The study aims to assess interpersonal functioning and the feasibility of recruitment strategies while addressing knowledge gaps related to treatment enhancements. Functional MRI will be utilized to gather data on brain activity associated with these behaviors.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are Veterans who exhibit high levels of rigidity, emotional overcontrol, and maladaptive perfectionism.
Not a fit: Patients with primary psychotic disorders are unlikely to benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved treatment strategies that enhance social functioning and reduce suicide risk in Veterans.
How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel in its specific focus on overcontrol in PTSD, similar studies have shown promise in using neuromodulation to enhance psychotherapy outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: General Inclusion: * All prospective participants must be able to comprehend the study's procedures and associated risks and be capable of providing informed consent. * Mean scores on the rigidity, emotional overcontrol, and maladaptive perfectionism subscales of the Pathological Obsessive Compulsive Personality Scale (POPS) must be greater than an average score of four (4 = "slightly agree") across subscale items. * The POPS is a 49-item self-report assessment of maladaptive behaviors and thought patterns associated with OCPD. * While Veterans with primary psychotic disorders will be excluded, the presence of other disorders related to obsessive-compulsive tendencies or personality will not be grounds for exclusion. * Psychiatric medication usage will be assessed during enrollment, but this will not serve as an inclusion or exclusion criterion (with an additional stipulation outlined below for the MRI subsample). Exclusion Criteria: General Exclusion: * The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) will be used to exclude participants with current psychosis or with past psychosis that was unrelated to depression. Additional MRI Criteria: * Participants interested in taking part in the MRI portion of the study will undergo a thorough screening to ensure MRI compatibility (e.g., absence of metal in the body, absence of claustrophobia). * Interested participants must meet the following additional criteria: * no medical contraindications for MRI (e.g., pacemakers, non-MRI safe implanted devices) * absence of neurological disorders * no moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (e.g., head trauma with loss of consciousness \>5 minutes) * no ongoing poorly controlled substance use disorder. * Lifetime history of seizures, primary or secondary CNS tumors, stroke, or cerebral aneurysm will also be exclusionary. * For participants in the MRI segment of the study, continued medication use will not be a disqualifying factor if the medication regimen has remained stable for the past month, with no intentions of altering dosages during the study duration. * This medication criterion will not be applied to participants who do not complete MRI scans. * For this feasibility trial, individuals exhibiting active suicidal behavior or a score \>3 on the suicidal ideation module of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale will be ineligible.
Where this trial is running
Providence, Rhode Island
- Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI — Providence, Rhode Island, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jennifer L Barredo — Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI
- Study coordinator: Jennifer L Barredo
- Email: Jennifer.Barredo@va.gov
- Phone: (401) 273-7100
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Compulsive Personality Disorder, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic