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Posttraumatic Stress DisorderPhase 2NCT05360953

Treating Nightmares in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With Clonidine and Doxazosin

A Phase 2 study testing Clonidine and Doxazosin in people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 5 sites in Germany.

Suspended

Paused. Enrolment is on hold for now and may resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

This randomized controlled trial will test the hypothesis that oral Clonidine or Doxazosin improves nightmares (primary outcome), other PTSD symptoms and psychopathology (secondary outcomes) to a greater extent than placebo over a ten week intervention phase in a parallel group design. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
What is being tested?
Clonidine and Doxazosin
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
53 participants
Where
5 sitesGermany
Study dates
17 Jun 2022to 31 Jul 2026
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to DSM 5 with a 20 item CAPS-5 total score ≥ 26
  • At least two nightmares a week, an intensity score ≥ 2, with a CAPS-IV B2 (frequency and intensity for the last week) score ≥ 5
  • Men and women between 18 and 65 years of age
  • Written informed consent
  • The patient has the capacity to give consent (He/she is able to understand the nature and anticipated effects/side effects of the proposed medical intervention)
  • The patient is not breastfeeding
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  • Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test
  • All participants must use highly effective contraception
  • The patient received stable pharmacological medication for at least 4 weeks or at least five times the value of a elimination half-life prior to study baseline (any changes in medication dose or frequency of therapy must be answered with no).

Who cannot join

  • Disturbances of cardiac impulse formation and conduction, for example sick sinus syndrome or atrioventricular block second and third degree
  • Bradycardia, with a heart rate less than 50 beats per minute
  • Current major depressive episode and a MADRS score > 34
  • The patient does have a known allergy, hypersensitivity or contraindication against clonidine, doxazosin, or other types of quinazolines
  • History of severe orthostatic hypotension
  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia and concomitant congestion of the upper urinary tract, chronic urinary tract infection or bladder stones, hypotension (for benign prostate hyperplasia only)
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  • Either overflow bladder or anuria with or without progressive renal insufficiency
  • Planned cataract surgery (risk of 'Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome')
  • Intake of phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitors
  • Intake of methylphenidate
  • Severe hepatic impairment (ASAT or ALAT greater than two times normal)
  • Acute or unstable medical illness
  • Known HIV- and/or active Hepatitis-B- or Hepatitis-C-infection
  • Current or past malignant illness
  • The patient does have clinically significant abnormalities in 12-lead ECG
  • The patient does have clinically significant laboratory abnormalities
  • Epilepsy
  • Dementia
  • Current substance/alcohol use disorder (≤ 3 months)
  • Psychotic disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Current anorexia nervosa
  • Acute suicidality (any suicidal ideation of type of 5 in the C-SSRS in the past month)
  • Intake of alpha adrenergic agents (Clonidine, doxazosin, or others) within 4 weeks prior to baseline (randomization)
  • Trauma-focused psychotherapy four weeks before the trial
  • Initiation of sleep medication 4 weeks prior to baseline
  • The patient is unwilling to consent to saving, processing and propagation of pseudonymized medical data for study reasons
  • Patients, who may be dependent on the sponsor, the investigator or the trial sites
  • The patient is legally detained in an official institution
  • The patient did participated in other interventional trials during the 3 months before and at the time of this trial

Trial locations and contacts

5 sites in 1 country.

5 sites in 1 country

Germany5 sites
  • Berlin St. Hedwig

    Berlin, 10115

  • Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie

    Berlin, 12203

  • Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

    Hamburg, 20246

  • Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit Mannheim

    Mannheim, 86159

  • Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

    Tübingen, Germany, 72076

Other trials in Germany

About this study

Official title: Treating Nightmares in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With the α-adrenergic Agents Clonidine and Doxazosin: A Randomized-Controlled Feasibility Study (ClonDoTrial)

This randomized controlled trial will test the hypothesis that oral Clonidine or Doxazosin improves nightmares (primary outcome), other PTSD symptoms and psychopathology (secondary outcomes) to a greater extent than placebo over a ten week intervention phase in a parallel group design.

Being tested
Clonidine, Doxazosin, Placebo
Keywords
Nightmares, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clonidine, Doxazosin
Medical subject headings
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ClonidineDrug

    All patients enrolled establish their individually tolerable dose by dose Titration. Dosage up to a maximum of 0.375 clonidine. Using capsules of 0,075 mg clonidine.

  • DoxazosinDrug

    All patients enrolled establish their individually tolerable dose by dose. Dosage up to a maximum of 10 mg doxazosin. Using capsules of 2 mg doxazosin.

    Titration.

  • PlaceboDrug

    All patients enrolled establish their individually tolerable dose by dose Titration. Dosage up to a maximum of 5 capsules. Using capsules of placebo.

Study groups in NCT05360953
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm ClonidineExperimentalNot described
Receives: Drug: Clonidine
Arm DoxazosinExperimentalNot described
Receives: Drug: Doxazosin
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorNot described
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change of frequency and intensity of nightmares

    Change of Frequency and intensity of nightmares, measured with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale-IV (CAPS-IV) B2 score for the last week, range 0-8, from baseline until directly after last intervention. A lower score indicates less frequent and/or intense nightmares.

    Measured: 10 weeks

Secondary outcomes (19)
  1. Change of frequency and intensity of nightmares

    Change of Frequency and intensity of nightmares, measured with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale-IV (CAPS-IV) B2 score for the last week, range 0-8, from baseline until directly after last intervention. A lower score indicates less frequent and/or intense nightmares.

    Measured: 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 8 weeks

  2. Change from baseline of the CLINICIAN-ADMINISTERED PTSD SCALE FOR DSM-5 (CAPS-5) total score

    Change from baseline of the CAPS-5 total score (overall PTSD symptoms, last week) (minimum value = 0; maximum value = 80; higher scores indicate higher PTSD symptom severity)

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  3. Change from baseline of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Addendum for PTSD

    Change from baseline of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Addendum for PTSD (PSQI A) (PTSD related sleep symptoms); (score = 0-21 point, 0 = no difficulty; 21 = severe difficulty in all areas)

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  4. Change from baseline of the -Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MDRS)

    Change from baseline of the MADRS (scores: 0 - 60; 0 - 6 = no depression; 7 - 19 = light depression; 20 - 34 = moderate depression; > 34 severe depression)

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  5. Weekly mean of change from baseline of daily total sleep time

    Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients daily total sleep time (in minutes), assessed with sleep diaries

    Measured: during 10 weeks

  6. Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients sleep onset latency at night (in minutes), assessed with sleep diaries

    Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients sleep onset latency at night (in minutes), assessed with sleep diaries

    Measured: during 10 weeks

  7. Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients recuperation of night sleep

    Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients recuperation of night sleep (5-point Likert scale, 1 = very much; 5

    = not at all), assessed with sleep diaries

    Measured: during 10 weeks

  8. Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients time awake at night

    Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients time awake at night (in minutes), assessed with sleep diaries

    Measured: during 10 weeks

  9. Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients number of nightmares last night

    Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients number of nightmares last night (0, 1, 3, 4 or more) assessed with sleep diaries

    Measured: during 10 weeks

  10. Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients intensity of nightmares

    Weekly mean of change from baseline of the patients intensity of nightmares (5-point Likert scale, 0 = not at all; 5 = extreme) assessed with sleep diaries

    Measured: during 10 weeks

  11. Change from baseline of PTSD symptoms assessed with the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5

    Change from baseline of PCL-5 PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; Score can range from 0-80 (higher scores indicate a higher PTSD symptom severity) Score (0 - 80; higher scores indicating higher chance of a possible PTSD diagnosis)

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  12. Change from baseline of the Borderline Symptom List 23 (BSL-23)

    Change from baseline of the BSL-23 score (Scores can range from 0 to 92; higher scores indicate higher Borderline symptom severity) Scores: 0 - 4 (0 = no Borderline Symptoms; 4 = severe borderline symptoms)

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  13. Change from baseline of the Health-Related Quality of Life (EQ-5D)

    Change from baseline of the EQ-5D score (score can range from 0-100; with higher scores indicating a better Health Related Quality of Life) Scores = 1-5 (1 = no problems; 5 = extreme problems)

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  14. Overall patients status measured by the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)

    Overall patients status measured by the PGIC (Scores can range from 0 - 7; with higher scores indicating higher improvement) score: 0 - 7 (0 = disease deterioration; 7 = disease improvement)

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  15. Change from baseline of the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale

    Change from baseline of the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS); Scores can range from 1 - 100, with higher scores indicating better social and occupational functioning

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  16. Change from baseline of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

    Change from baseline of the PSQI; Scores can range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating lower sleep quality Scores : 0 - 21, lower scores denote a healthier sleep quality

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  17. Change from baseline of symptoms of PTSD and complex PTSD according to ICD-11 assessed with the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)

    Change from baseline of symptoms of ITQ, dimensional scores can range from 0 - 24, with higher scores indicating highter PTSD symptom severity

    Categorical Scoring:

    For PTSD items, endorsement of a symptom or functional impairment item is defined as a score of 2 or greater.

    The diagnosis of PTSD is indicated based on the following criteria:

    • Question 1 or 2 = one or more items endorsed (re-experiencing)
    • Question 3 or 4 = one or more items endorsed (avoidance)
    • Question 5 or 6 = one or more items endorsed (sense of current threat)
    • Question 7, 8 or 9 = one or more items endorsed (PTSD functional impairment)

    Measured: 6 and 10 weeks

  18. Responder analysis: proportion of patients showing improvement in nightmares

    Responder analysis: proportion of patients showing improvement in nightmares (change from baseline) defined as decrease of CLINICIAN-ADMINISTERED PTSD SCALE FOR DSM-IV (CAPS-IV B2) ≥50% assessed at the end of treatment

    Score: 0 - 8 (higher scores indicate higher frequency and severity of nightmares)

    Measured: 10 weeks

  19. Remitter analysis: proportion of patients showing full remission of nightmares

    Remitter analysis: proportion of patients showing full remission of nightmares defined as CLINICIAN-ADMINISTERED PTSD SCALE FOR DSM-IV (CAPS-IV B2) = 0, assessed at the end of treatment; 0 = no nightmares (score 0 - 8; higher scores indicate higher frequency and severity of nightmares))

    Measured: 10 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 May 2022
  2. Study start17 Jun 2022
  3. Primary completion8 Aug 2025
  4. Study completion31 Jul 2026 (estimated)

Why it stopped: Early termination due to recruitment issues

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Randomized controlled study (double-blind)
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
53 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05360953
Sponsor's protocol ID
ClonDO
Status last verified
Jan 2025
First submitted
29 Apr 2022
Last updated
13 Aug 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Roepke S, Schoofs N, Priebe K, Wuelfing F, Roehle R, Maslahati T, Stieglbauer K, Biedermann S, Schaefer I, Gallinat J, Ethofer T, Fallgatter AJ, Hanewald B, Mulert C, Schmahl C, Otte C, Koglin S. Treating nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder with the alpha-adrenergic agents clonidine and doxazosin: protocol for a phase II randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group study (ClonDoTrial). BMJ Open. 2025 Aug 5;15(8):e098161. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-098161.

    PubMed 40764082

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Clonidine and Doxazosin in people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 5 sites in Germany.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 30 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: paused, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 5 sites in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change of frequency and intensity of nightmares (time frame: 10 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05360953, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Aug 2025.

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