The purpose of this study is to show whether D-cycloserine in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective than CBT plus placebo to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 13-18 year-old children.
While most individuals with PTSD treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) show improvement, they still have some enduring symptoms and functional impairment. Accordingly, there is a need for treatment advances. D-cycloserine (DCS), an antibiotic that has been used for over 50 years, has also been found to have positive effects on cognition and anxiety. DCS was found to enhance learning and memory, and also facilitates extinction of fear reactions. However, DCS only produces an extinction effect when paired with behavioral training, not when simply given alone. Thus, the medication only needs to be given for seven doses in this research and youth do not need to take the medication long term. The research also includes a three-month follow-up.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
24
D-cycloserine 50 mg by mouth prior to sessions 5-12 of the 12-session CBT protocol.
Placebo pill by mouth prior to sessions 5-12 of teh 12-session CBT protocol.
12-session CBT protocol, called Youth PTSD Treatment.
Tulane University Health Sciences Center, 1440 Canal St.
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS)
The CPSS is a 17-item standardized, self-administered questionnaires with versions for both youths and caregivers. Items are scored on 0-3 scale. Minimum possible score is 0 and maximum is 51. Only the total score is used; there are no subscales. A higher score indicates greater symptom severity (worse).
Time frame: After 12 therapy sessions, up to 28 weeks.
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