Using retinal biomarkers to predict mental health treatment outcomes in PTSD
Official title: Electroretinogram (ERG) as a Potential Biomarker of Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)-Responsive Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Pilot Study
Run by VA Puget Sound Health Care System · NCT06363968 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if changes in eye signals can help predict how well veterans with PTSD will respond to a single dose of the medication sertraline.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 21 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | VA Puget Sound Health Care System Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Seattle, Washington) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 12, 2024 |
| Main results expected | September 1, 2025 |
| Study ends | September 1, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | April 12, 2024 |
| Trial ID | NCT06363968 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who have a current diagnosis of PTSD.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with primary psychotic disorders, significant visual impairments, or those who have previously experienced adverse reactions to SSRIs may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot study investigates the relationship between the electroretinogram (ERG) waveform and the effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline in veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Participants will undergo ERG recordings before and after receiving a single dose of sertraline, allowing researchers to assess changes in retinal signals associated with mental health. The study aims to determine if baseline ERG signals can predict the response to SSRI treatment, potentially providing a new biomarker for PTSD management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved treatment strategies for PTSD by identifying patients who are likely to respond to SSRIs based on retinal biomarkers.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of retinal biomarkers in mental health treatment is a novel approach, previous studies have suggested potential correlations between retinal signals and brain activity related to mental health disorders.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces * Current diagnosis of PTSD Exclusion Criteria: * Known diagnosis of a primary psychotic or major neurocognitive disorder * Significant bilateral visual loss * History of acute angle closure glaucoma * Known inherited retinal disease * Previous ERG deficits * Known photosensitive epilepsy * Known current pregnancy or lactation * Allergy or previous adverse reaction to sertraline or SSRI * Allergy to Sensor Strip gel * Hepatic failure * Damage to orbit structure or open lesion in soft tissue surrounding the eye * Any use in the time period of at least 6 half-lives prior to baseline of sertraline or other drugs acting on serotonin and/or unwillingness to avoid these medications for the duration of the study.
Where it's running
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VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Seattle, Washington, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Rebecca Hendrickson, MD, PhD — VA Puget Sound Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Katharine J Liang, MD, PhD
- Email: katharine.liang@va.gov
- Phone: (206) 277-6538
Similar studies
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.