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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01348750

Healing Touch & Guided Imagery for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

This is a randomized controlled 2 year trial at Camp Pendleton, CA to determine whether a complementary medicine intervention (Healing Touch with Guided Imagery, HT+GI) reduces Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms as compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in returning combat-exposed active duty military with significant PTSD symptoms. Secondary aims will evaluate the effect of HT and GI on measures of depression, hostility, and general health status in this population.

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Key information

Conditions

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Mental Disorders Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine

La Jolla, California, 92037, United States

About this study

The study enrolled 123 active duty subjects from the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Southern California with at least one or more symptoms of PTSD .

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Female or male subjects 18 years or older
  • Post-deployment from a combat zone
  • Identified by post-deployment health re-assessment to have PTSD symptoms
  • Referred by Camp Pendleton
  • Subjects who are willing to sign a consent
  • Subjects who are willing to participate for the length of the study

Exclusions:

  • Female subjects who are now pregnant or nursing
  • Subjects who are receiving healing touch or using guided imagery from other sources
  • Subjects who have any major health condition that may interfere with participating in this study

Treatment and study plan

Healing Touch & Guided Imagery

Other

Healing Touch (HT) is an energy based approach to health and healing. It uses light touch to influence the energy field that surrounds the body, and the energy centers which control the flow of energy to the physical body.

HT complements traditional health care and is used together with other approaches to health and healing.

Guided Imagery (GI) is a form of focused relaxation used to create harmony between the mind and body. Positive mental imagery can promote relaxation, reduce stress and improve mood as well as alter heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.

Primary outcomes

  1. 17-item PTSD Checklist (Military)is used to determine the effect of the intervention

    Time frame: After 6 treatments of healing touch and guided imagery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Depression (Beck Depression Inventory)

    Time frame: After 6 treatments of healing touch and guided imagery

  2. Quality of Life (SF36)

    Time frame: After 6 treatments of healing touch and guided imagery

  3. Hostility (Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory)

    Time frame: After 6 treatments of healing touch and guided

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine

Other

Collaborators

  • Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Registry information

Official study title

Healing Touch and Guided Imagery Intervention in Post-deployment Military Personnel With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2010
First posted
May 5, 2011
Registry last updated
May 5, 2011

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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