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Deep Brain Reorienting for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Sponsor: University of Alberta • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07840417

Registry updated: 2026-10-05

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Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) works to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in military veterans. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does DBR lower PTSD symptoms compared with treatment as usual? * Do PTSD symptoms stay lower three months after treatment? Researchers will compare waitlist to see if DBR works to treat PTSD. Participants will: * Receive eight DBR sessions, each lasting about 50 minutes * Answer questions before and after treatment and 3 months later * Complete short questionnaires before and after each session * Complete an interview about their experience of DBR

Interventions

Deep Brain Reorienting (Behavioral)
Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is a neuroscientifically informed psychotherapy targeting the midbrain-brainstem sequence of orienting tension, shock, and affective response encoded during traumatic events. DBR interventions guide participants through these subcortically mediated survival-oriented responses to facilitate integration and resolution. In contrast to other guideline-based trauma-focused psychotherapies, it does not require verbal exploration of traumatic memories. Instead, it focuses on the response to trauma reminders at the level of the brainstem orienting response and Innate Alarm System. DBR will be administered by certified, experienced trauma clinicians, such as psychiatrists and psychotherapists. Each DBR session will include the following: * Identification of orienting tension * Attunement to shock activation * Integration of affective sequences * Resolution of trauma-encoded brainstem orientation patterns
Treatment as Usual (TAU) (Behavioral)
This intervention means that participants will receive 8 weeks of treatment as usual without DBR or other trauma-focused therapy.

Eligibility criteria

Stream 1: Military Veterans receiving the DBR Intervention: Inclusion Criteria * 18 to 65 years old * Current or former military member / Veteran (for Stream 1 only) * DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis determined via the CAPS-5 * If on psychiatric medications: stable ≥ 4 weeks * Fluent in English * Ability to provide informed consent and participate in therapy sessions * Able to benefit from short-term therapy, as determined by study assessment Exclusion Criteria * High-risk clinical state (e.g., suicidal or homicidal intent; substance withdrawal) requiring acute intervention. * History of moderate to severe head or brain injury leading to impaired functioning (e.g., a Glasgow Coma Scale Score \< 15 at the time of incident assessed retrospectively by participant; sustained loss of consciousness leading to impaired functioning) * Cognitive impairment limiting informed consent * Significant untreated medical illness * History of neurological disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, bipolar or psychotic disorder * Alcohol/substance use problems within the last 3 months requiring medical withdrawal or likely to interfere with therapy. * Degree of mental distress that is unlikely to benefit from a short-term therapy (for our participant's well-being, it will be necessary that we believe it possible to safely address the issues/triggers brought up in treatment within the 8 sessions). * Any condition that, in the clinical opinion of study psychiatrists or clinicians, would make psychotherapy ineffective or unsafe, or that would interfere with study engagement and completion (e.g., homeless, ongoing psychosocial crisis, etc). Other considerations: Participants will be asked not to start any new PTSD treatments (medications or psychotherapy) 4 weeks prior to study enrollment and until study participation is complete. If already taking psychiatric medications, doses must be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to enrolling in the study, and remain stable until study completion. Participants in DBR stream must be able and willing to pause other trauma-focused psychotherapies (e.g., CPT, EMDR, exposure therapy) while receiving DBR in the study. Non-trauma focused therapies (e.g. CBT) or supportive talk with a therapist may continue. We are currently actively recruiting participants for Stream 1 only, exclusively military veterans.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Posttraumatic Stress Symptom

Locations

Alberta Hospital Edmonton — Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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