Study Procedures
Depending on the study you qualify for, you may be involved with one or more of the following procedures:
Computerized exercises and online assessments
You will log into a personalized website and play computerized games on a computer. You might do this from the comfort of your home, or we might ask you to come to the laboratory and log into the website from there. You will be asked to play the games for several weeks, for 45 minutes a day. Your responses to the games will be stored, time stamped, monitored, and stored on a secure server. Every day after you complete the exercises, you will also complete a few questions about your feelings and thoughts. If we invite you to do certain exercises in the laboratory, the sessions will be scheduled at your convenience between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Electroencephalography is a non-invasive way of measuring brain activity by using electrodes placed on the scalp. There is no sensation of any kind, and it is not harmful.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
This is a specialized examination of the head which uses a magnet to create pictures of the structure and function of the brain. The scanning procedure is very much like an X-ray or CT scan. You will be asked to lie on a long narrow couch for 1-2 hours while the machine gathers data. Your head and shoulders lie in a plastic rounded tray which makes it more comfortable and easier to lie still. X-rays and radiation are NOT involved. Except for repetitive tapping noises, there is no sensation of any kind, and it is not harmful.
Prolonged exposure therapy is a gold standard psychotherapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. It has four main components*:
- Education: You will learn about common trauma reactions, your symptoms, PTSD, and the goals of treatment. This is the foundation for the rest of treatment.
- Breathing: Learning how to control your breath is a skill that helps you relax and can help in the short-term to manage immediate distress.
- Real world practice: “In vivo” exposure with real-world situations allows you to practice approaching situations that are safe but which you may have been avoiding because they are related to the trauma. This type of exposure practice helps to gradually lessen trauma-related distress.
- Talking through the trauma: Imaginal exposure, or talking about your trauma memory with your therapist, can help you get more control of your thoughts and feelings about the trauma. Over time, many people feel better and have fewer negative thoughts about the trauma.
*Information excerpted from the VA's online resource.
You will be provided a comprehensive sleep study in the comfort of your own home. The polysomnography hookup process will take approximately 1 hour and will involve connecting you with leads that monitor brain activity (EEG), breathing, heart rate (EKG), and muscle activity (EMG). You will be made as comfortable as possible and this part of your participation will provide valuable information about your sleep and how it relates to your overall health.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and repetitive TMS (rTMS)
TMS is a noninvasive method of stimulating activity in the brain. The magnetic stimulation is carried out by placing a metal coil close to or touching your scalp or skin, while series of brief magnetic pulses are produced by that coil. In some regions of the brain, this produces a slight movement of the arm, leg or head. TMS stimulation may lead to mild discomfort at the site of stimulation and can be associated with a mild headache that is generally alleviated by acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Its effects are transient and will wear off when TMS stimulation is removed. In some studies, TMS may be done at the same time as an fMRI scan.
Repetetive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new treatment modality approved by the FDA in 2008 for the treatment of depression. It is of unknown mechanism, but we now have the tools to better understand it.
Click here for more information about TMS and rTMS.
