CSP No. 563, Prazosin and Combat Trauma PTSD (PACT) Study

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating and disabling mental disorder that afflicts at least 25% of Veterans who have suffered life-threatening war zone trauma. Trauma-related nightmares and sleep disturbance are among the most treatment-resistant PTSD symptoms in Veterans. Placebo-controlled pilot studies demonstrate that the generically available CNS-active alpha-1 adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin substantially reduces PTSD trauma nightmares and sleep disturbance and improves global clinical status (sense of well being and ability to function) in Veterans.

The VA CSP No. 563 PACT Study is investigating to see if taking prazosin can help reduce nightmares and other sleep problems in people who have PTSD. This 26 week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study is designed to demonstrate both short term efficacy and long term effectiveness of prazosin for PTSD.

Three hundred twenty-six Veterans with war zone -related PTSD and persistent trauma nightmares will be randomized 1:1 to prazosin or placebo. During the first 10 weeks of the study, participants will be randomized to prazosin or placebo. During the remaining 16 weeks of the 26 week trial, subjects will continue to receive stable-dose double-blind prazosin or placebo, but will have the option to receive additional psychotropic medications and/or psychotherapeutic interventions, as needed.

This study is carried out at 13 VA Medical Centers around the country. The study is taking place at the following locations:

California

• VA Medical Center, Loma Linda
  • Contact: Ronald Fernando, MD 909-583-6361 Ronald.Fernando@va.gov

• VA Medical Center, Long Beach
  • Contact: Christopher Reist, MD 562-826-8000 ext 4941 Chris.Reist@va.gov

Florida

• VA Medical Center, Miami
  • Contact: Aitala Giron, MD 605-575-7000 ext 3953 Aitala.Giron@va.gov

Georgia

• Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur
  • Contact: Kelly Skelton, MD 404-321-6111 ext 3121 Kelly.Skelton@va.gov

Missouri

• VA Medical Center, Kansas City MO
  Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64128
  • Contact: Cherilyn DeSouza, MD 816-922-2640 Cherilyn.DeSouza@va.gov

New Mexico

• New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque
  • Contact: Gerardo Villarreal, MD 505-265-1711 ext 4933 Gerardo.Villarreal@va.gov

New York

• New York Harbor HCS
  • Contact: Adam Wolkin 212-686-7500 ext 3195 Adam.Wolkin@va.gov

North Carolina

• VA Medical Center, Durham
  • Contact: Michael Hertzberg, MD 919-286-0411 ext 7977 Michael.Hertzberg@va.gov

Salisbury VAMC

• Salisbury, North Carolina, United States, 28144
  • Contact: Robin Hurley, MD 704-638-9000 ext 3450 Robin.Hurley@va.gov

Rhode Island

• VA Medical Center, Providence
  • Contact: Robert Swift, MD 401-273-7100 ext 3473 Robert.Swift@va.gov

South Carolina

• WJB Dorn Veterans Hospital, Columbia
  • Contact: Barbara Crockett, MD 803-776-4000 ext 7018 Barbara.Crockett2@va.gov

Utah

• VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City
  • Contact: Jennifer Romesser, PsyD 801-582-1565 Jennifer.Romesser@va.gov

Wisconsin

• Wlliam S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison
  • Contact: Eileen Ahearn, MD 608-280-7015 Eileen.Ahearn@va.gov

For more information on CSP No. 563 PACT Study, please contact:

National Study Coordinator: Hollie Holmes, Hollie.Holmes@va.gov
OR
Project Manager: Beverly Ventura, Beverly.Ventura@va.gov

Principal Investigators:
VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
Study Co-Chair: Murray Raskind, MD, Murray.Raskind@va.gov
Study Co-Chair: Elaine Peskind, MD, Elaine.Peskind@va.gov
Study Related Link:
ClinicalTrials.gov: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00532493?order=1

Questions about the R&D website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.