Can therapy rewire the PTSD brain? new study investigates
NCT ID NCT02695953
First seen Jun 27, 2026 ยท Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tracks 130 adults with PTSD from childhood trauma as they undergo Cognitive Processing Therapy. Researchers will measure brain activity, genetics, and behavior before and after treatment to understand how recovery happens. The goal is to uncover biological markers of PTSD and recovery, not to test a new drug or cure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only โ not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (a type of talk therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help explain how PTSD changes the brain and which factors predict recovery, pointing toward better treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It may not lead to direct new therapies, and results may not apply to all PTSD patients.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
McLean Hospital
Belmont, Massachusetts, 02478, United States
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