Despite a range of treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), only a small proportion of patients reach full symptomatic remission. Recent developments in the field of neuroscience have been providing compelling evidence to suggest that neurobiological determinants might influence not only the emergence of PTSD, but also its resistance to treatment. Immune-inflammation regulatory processes were found to be active during recovery from PTSD, potentially through interactive relationship with the oxytocin secretion system. This innovative longitudinal study aims to examine the role of inflammatory biomarkers and their interactive effect with the oxytocin (OT) system on the development of PTSD and on treatment response among patients with PTSD symptoms undergoing psychotherapy treatment. Patients (N = 100) suffering from trauma-related distress will be recruited from the trauma clinic in Shalvata Mental Health Center. Participants will be followed for 12 weeks of once-a-week psychotherapy sessions. They will be measured for endogenous OT level and cytokines levels in saliva before and after sessions 1, 6, and 12, and will complete psychotherapy outcome self-report questionnaires following each of these sessions.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
Shalvata Mental health Center
Hod HaSharon, Israel
RECRUITINGOxytocin Secretion
Endogenous oxytocin level in saliva
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
Inflammatory Response: IL-1β
inflammatory biomarker IL-1β assessed in saliva
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
Inflammatory Response: IL-6
inflammatory biomarker IL-6 assessed in saliva
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
Inflammatory Response: TNF-α
inflammatory biomarker TNF-α assessed in saliva
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): Self-report questionnaire consisting of 20 items ranging from 0-4. High scores indicate worst outcome.
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
Depression severity
Patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9): Self-report questionnaire consisting of 9 items ranging from 0-3. High scores indicate worst outcome.
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
General anxiety symptoms
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7): Self-report questionnaire consisting of 7 items ranging from 0-3. High scores indicate worst outcome.
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
Psychological resilience
Conor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC-10): Self-report questionnaire consisting of 10 items ranging from 0-4. High scores indicate better outcome.
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
Working Alliance
Short Alliance Inventory (SAI): Self-report questionnaire consisting of 6 items ranging from 0-5. High scores indicate better outcome.
Time frame: 12-16 weeks, depending on treatment duration
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