Can brain and body clues predict PTSD treatment success in teens?

NCT ID NCT07537764

Not yet recruiting Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study examines how 180 adolescents aged 14-18 with trauma-related symptoms react to stress and strong emotions. Researchers will measure brain activity, heart rate, and anxiety while teens repeatedly imagine details of their own traumatic event. The goal is to understand which biological and behavioral patterns might predict who responds best to exposure-based therapies for PTSD.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Repeated imaginal exposure (script-driven imagery task)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help identify which teens with PTSD are most likely to benefit from exposure-based therapies, leading to more personalized treatment.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small study focused on understanding mechanisms, not testing a treatment. Results may not directly improve care or apply to all teens with PTSD.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

post-traumatic stress disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) TRAUMA EXPOSURE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

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