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RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteersPhase 2

Combining Stellate Ganglion Block With Prolonged Exposure for PTSD

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · with United States Department of Defense · NCT05889741

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–65 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Phase 2
Target enrollment
140
US sites recruiting
2
Study start
February 26, 2024
Record last updated
September 4, 2025

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the combination of Massed Prolonged Exposure (PE); a behavioral therapy for PTSD) and a stellate ganglion block (SGB; an injection of a local anesthetic into the front of the neck) with Massed Prolonged Exposure and a sham injection in a sample of military service members or retirees with PTSD. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) Does the addition of an SGB improve treatment outcomes associated with Massed PE and (2) Do differences in psychophysiological arousal during the exposure portion of treatment help explain treatment outcomes for PTSD. Participants will receive ten 90-minute session of Massed PE. Between the first and second Massed PE sessions, half of the participants will receive a SGB, and half will receive a sham SGB.

Being studied: Ropivacaine injection; Normal saline

Conditions: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Active duty and retired military service members ages 18-65 years
  • PTSD diagnosis as assessed by Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Scale
  • Able to speak and read English (due to standardization of outcome measures)
  • Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)-eligible to receive care at a military treatment facility (MTF) where the stellate ganglion block will be placed.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Current suicidal ideation severe enough to warrant immediate attention (as determined by the Depressive Symptoms Index - Suicidality Subscale and the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview short form) and corroborated by a clinical risk assessment by a credentialed provider.
  • Current manic episode or psychotic symptoms requiring immediate stabilization or hospitalization (as determined by clinical judgment)
  • Symptoms of moderate to severe substance use (to include alcohol) warranting immediate intervention based on clinical judgment.
  • Other psychiatric disorders severe enough to warrant designation as the primary disorder as determined by clinician judgment
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Current anticoagulant use
  • History of bleeding disorder
  • Infection or mass at injection site
  • Myocardial infarction within 6 months of procedure
  • Pathologic bradycardia or irregularities of heart rate or rhythm
  • Symptomatic hypotension
  • Phrenic or laryngeal nerve palsy
  • History of glaucoma
  • Uncontrolled seizure disorder
  • History of allergy to local anesthetics
  • Current use of Class III antiarrhythmics

Recruiting US locations

  • Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center

    Fort Hood, TX 76544

    Site contact: Paul Fowler · 726-225-5520 · fowlerp@uthscsa.edu

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

    San Antonio, TX 78229

    Site contact: Amanda Flores · 210-562-6726 · floresa13@uthscsa.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Amanda Flores · 210-562-6726 · floresa13@uthscsa.edu
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Combining Stellate Ganglion Block With Prolonged Exposure for PTSD (NCT05889741) | Bored Studies