Blood pressure and eye tests may guide PTSD treatment
NCT ID NCT03539614
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This Phase 3 trial tests whether two easy tests—measuring blood pressure changes when standing and eye reactions to light—can predict which veterans with PTSD will respond to the drug prazosin. The study involves 87 veterans and compares prazosin to a placebo. The goal is to personalize PTSD treatment by identifying who is most likely to benefit from this medication.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Prazosin (Minipress), a blood pressure drug also used for PTSD symptoms
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors predict which PTSD patients will respond to prazosin, making treatment more personalized and effective.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage biomarker study (87 veterans). The tests may not reliably predict response, and prazosin doesn't work for everyone. Results may not apply to non-veterans.
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
-
Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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87 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2018
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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21 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: * Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces * Current diagnosis of PTSD (as documented in clinical chart and/or per participant report; a rule out diagnosis from a VA provider accompanied by a referral to the VA PTSD Outpatient Clinic (POC) will also be considered sufficient for inclusion) * Woman of childbearing potential must agree to abstain from sexual relations that could result in pregnancy or use an effective method of birth control acceptable to both participant and study clinician during the study. Men are not required to use contraception during the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Psychiatric: * Any known diagnosis of a primary psychotic or major neurocognitive disorder, including schizophrenia, brief psychotic disorder, or Alzheimer's or other dementia, as well as bipolar type I * Severe psychiatric instability or severe situational life crises, including evidence of being actively suicidal or homicidal, or any behavior which poses an immediate danger to participant or others. * Note: Nonsuicidal depression comorbid with PTSD will not be exclusionary. Participants may continue in any concurrent psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy in which they are participating, other than pharmacotherapeutic agents specifically listed above. Participants with active suicidal ideation or with depression severe enough to require psychiatric hospitalization will be excluded. * Medical: * Significant bilateral visual loss (would preclude performing the PLR measurements) * Current pregnancy or lactation * Allergy or previous adverse reaction to prazosin or other alpha-1 antagonist * Acute or unstable chronic medical illness, including unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction (within 6 months), congestive heart failure, preexisting hypotension (systolic \<110) or orthostatic hypotension (systolic drop \> 20mmHg after two minutes standing or any drop accompanied by dizziness); autoimmune disorders; insulin-dependent diabetes * Chronic renal or hepatic failure, acute pancreatitis, Meniere's disease, benign positional vertigo, or narcolepsy * Medication / treatment: * Any use within the 7 days prior to baseline of prazosin, doxazosin, clonidine, guanfacine, trazodone, or nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics, and/or unwillingness to avoid these medications for the duration of the study * Use of avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra) will be not be permitted during the study dose titration period because of increased risk of hypotension in combination with alpha-1 blockers, but will be allowed at 1/2 the usual starting dose following dose titration * Current use of nitrates, or of alternative medications or supplements with significant vasodilatory properties (e.g., nitrate containing supplements) * Participants may also be excluded at the discretion of PI or study clinicians if they appear to be unsuitable for this research study for a reason not detailed here.
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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
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VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
Seattle, Washington, 98108-1532, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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