Enhancing cognitive processing therapy via stellate ganglion blocks: A pilot randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Medical Procedures

Background:

• Trauma-focused psychotherapies like CPT are effective for PTSD, but some individuals show limited response.
• Stellate ganglion block (SGB), targeting the sympathetic nervous system, shows potential for PTSD treatment.
• SGB is being explored as an augmentation to psychotherapy for PTSD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of accelerated CPT augmented with SGB compared to placebo for treating PTSD.
• To evaluate SGB's impact on clinician-assessed and self-reported PTSD symptoms, as well as depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial was conducted.
• 39 participants meeting DSM-5 criteria for PTSD received either SGB or a saline placebo injection.
• Participants then underwent 10 virtual CPT sessions over 5 days.

Main Results:

• Both SGB and placebo groups showed large improvements in PTSD and depressive symptoms.
• No significant treatment condition by time interactions were found for primary or secondary outcomes.
• The SGB group reported significantly lower self-reported PTSD symptoms on the first day of CPT.

Conclusions:

• Augmenting accelerated CPT with SGB is feasible.
• SGB did not produce significantly greater symptom reductions than a placebo when augmenting CPT.
• Further research may explore SGB's role in PTSD treatment, potentially at different time points or in combination with other therapies.