The Effects of Stellate Ganglion Block Sleep in U.S. Active Duty Service Members and Veterans Receiving Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD

Purpose

Participants in this study will have already been enrolled in another research study: Combining Stellate Ganglion Block with Prolonged Exposure for PTSD, NCT05889741. The investigators are using a Sleep Profiler, EEG headband to monitor a participants brainwaves while they sleep to see what effects the Stellate Ganglion Block injection has on their sleep. Participants will wear the headband for 3 nights before the injection and then 3 nights after the injection. Participants will also complete self-report questionnaires regarding their sleep prior to the injection and following the injection. Approximately 40 participants will be included in this study. This study is a nested observational study whereby participants in the parent study who elect to participate will have their sleep assessed using the EEG headband device and self-reported sleep measures performed.

Condition

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 65 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Ability to provide informed consent and follow study-related instructions. 2. Be randomized into the study titled "Combining Stellate Ganglion Block with Prolonged Exposure for PTSD: A Randomized Clinical Trial." NCT05889741 3. Indicates willingness to wear the Sleep Profiler sleep monitor and to complete self-report assessments.

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Pre-existing skin or soft tissue condition that precludes the ability to wear the Sleep Profiler headband.

Study Design

Phase
Study Type
Observational
Observational Model
Other
Time Perspective
Prospective

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Massed Prolonged Exposure (PE) with SGB group Participants will wear the EEG headband monitoring device (Sleep Profiler)for 3 nights as a baseline prior to SGB injection administered as part of enrollment in original study from which they were recruited. After the SGB injection, participants will wear the headband monitoring device for 3 nights.
  • Other: Sleep Profiler Headband
    The headband is worn for 3 nights prior to injection and then for a an additional 3 nights after the injection. Efficacy of the headband is not being tested, it is used as a measuring tool.
Massed PE Exposure with Sham SGB Participants will wear the EEG headband monitoring device (Sleep Profiler) for 3 nights as a baseline prior to the sham SGB injection administered as part of enrollment in original study from which they were recruited. Participants will wear the EEG headband monitoring device for 3 nights following the sham SGB injection.
  • Other: Sleep Profiler Headband
    The headband is worn for 3 nights prior to injection and then for a an additional 3 nights after the injection. Efficacy of the headband is not being tested, it is used as a measuring tool.

Recruiting Locations

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas 78229
Contact:
Kristi Pruiksma, PhD, DBSM
210-562-6700
pruiksma@uthscsa.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Study Contact

Kristi E Pruiksma, PhD, DBSM
(210) 562-6700
pruiksma@uthscsa.edu

Detailed Description

Objectives: The primary objective of this project is to observe the impact of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on objective measures of sleep (using a wearable headband) and subjective measures of sleep (self-report measures) in active duty service members and veterans receiving prolonged exposure therapy (PE) for PTSD. The secondary objective is to evaluate sleep improvements as a mechanism for PTSD treatment outcomes in this population. Specific Aim 1: To compare the effects of a SGB with ropivacaine (active) versus a SGB with saline (sham) on objective measures of sleep macroarchitecture (i.e., rapid eye movement [REM] sleep and slow wave sleep) and sleep continuity (i.e., sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, number of awakenings, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency). Specific Aim 2: To compare the effects of SGB (active)+PE versus SGB (sham)+PE on sleep microarchitectural indicators of heightened central nervous system arousal (i. e., high-frequency and low-frequency power spectral density, frequency of occipital alpha-indexed micro-arousals, slow wave features [e.g., slope, density] during N3 sleep, proportion of phasic and tonic REM sleep and REM density during REM sleep). Specific Aim 3: Specific Aim 3: To evaluate the effects of SGB (active)+PE versus SGB (sham)+PE on self-reported measures of insomnia and nightmares.