Virtual Reality & D-cycloserine (DCS) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study proposes to evaluate the effects of D-cycloserine (DCS) combined with Virtual
Reality exposure therapy in a sample of patients who developed posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) following either the events of September 11, 2001, or military service in the war in
Iraq. In addition, this study hopes to determine whether a common human genetic single
nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a growth factor, brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF
(Val66Met), predicts treatment response to PTSD.
Overall, this study aims 1) to determine if subjects administered DCS show a significantly
larger decrease in symptoms of PTSD as compared to those administered a placebo, 2) to
determine if subjects administered DCS show a decrease in PTSD symptomatology significantly
earlier (as measured by weeks) than those administered a placebo, 3) to determine if
differences in symptomatology are evident at a 6-month follow-up and indicate long-term
differences between groups, and 4) to determine if the BDNF SNP predicts treatment response.