Brain scans reveal how therapy heals teen PTSD

NCT ID NCT05423444

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
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Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

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Status unknown
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First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looks at how trauma-focused therapy changes brain connections in teenagers with PTSD. Researchers will use brain scans before and after each phase of therapy to understand which brain networks are involved. The goal is to learn how therapy works in the brain, which could lead to better treatments in the future. 180 teens aged 12-17 who have experienced interpersonal trauma and have PTSD symptoms will take part.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 180 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Nov 2022

Expected to finish

Feb 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

12 to 17 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * ages 12-17 and Tanner stage 2 or above * history of interpersonal trauma * PTSD symptoms with a rating of '2' or higher on at least one symptom from each of the 4 clusters, using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents, and having a duration of at least one month Exclusion Criteria: * current or past use of psychiatric medications * severe suicidal/homicidal ideation * current hospitalization * other current psychotherapy or previous treatment with TF-CBT * history of head injury with loss of consciousness for \>5 minutes * IQ\<85 * major medical illness * MRI contraindications (metal in body; braces on teeth) * psychosis, bipolar 1, autism, developmental disorder, panic disorder * first-degree family member with diagnosis of psychosis or bipolar I disorder * substance dependence within the past 3 months or current drug use that is frequent

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

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

How to take part

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  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • UT Health Department of Psychiatry

    RECRUITING

    San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States

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