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Posttraumatic Stress DisorderPhase 1NCT06135090

Testing a Peer-led Trauma-focused Intervention for Significant Others of Those With BPD

A Phase 1 study testing Trauma Recovery Program (official title TBD) in people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Family Members, run by York University at 1 site in Canada.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This project involves developing and piloting a peer-led intervention focused on posttraumatic stress symptoms for the family members and significant others of people with borderline personality disorder. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Trauma Recovery Program (official title TBD)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
1 Oct 2026to 1 Jan 2028
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Self-identify as having experienced a trauma related to their loved one with BPD or related problems that impacts them
  • Has previously received the Family Connections program at Sashbear (i.e., a peer-led intervention that teaches family members skills for managing their relationships with their loved one with BPD and related problems)

Who cannot join

  • Engagement in suicidal or self-injurious behaviour in the past year
  • Elevated BPD symptoms

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Canada1 site
  • York University

    Toronto, Ontario, M9A 3C8

    Skye Fitzpatrick, skyefitz@yorku.ca

    Skye Fitzpatrick, PhD

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Development and Initial Testing of a Peer-Led Trauma-Focused Intervention for Significant Others of Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder

This project involves developing and piloting a peer-led intervention focused on posttraumatic stress symptoms for the family members and significant others of people with borderline personality disorder. The project involves collaborating with The Sashbear Foundation who will be delivering the trauma response program (TRP) that was developed by the investigative team to its network. In phase 1 of this project, the investigators will evaluate the first delivery of the TRP at The Sashbear Foundation and solicit feedback from peer-facilitators and recipients who consent to research participation. In phase 2 of this project, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy, acceptability, and safety of the delivery of the next two to four TRPs delivered at The Sashbear Foundation consisting of up to approximately 10 group members (maximum number of TRP recipient research participants in phase 2 is 40).

Read the detailed description

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe mental illness characterized by intense conflict and instability in interpersonal relationships, emotion dysregulation and inappropriate anger, chronic feelings of emptiness, impulsivity, and self-injury with suicidal or non-suicidal intent. Significant others of people with BPD such as family members, friends, and intimate partners, find self-injury intensely distressing and traumatizing. Perhaps as a result, approximately two thirds of significant others of people with BPD report desiring mental health support for themselves, but not being able to access any. A recent needs assessment conducted by the investigative team involving 157 significant others of people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) suggested that 85.7% of significant others reported having traumatic experiences related to their loved one with BPD and 48.7% exhibited clinically significant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Further, 94.8% of these individuals reported desiring an intervention focused on reducing PTSD symptoms and related phenomena. However, no interventions for significant others focused on trauma currently exist. Therefore, the investigative team collaborated to develop a peer-led, trauma-focused intervention for significant others of people with BPD and emotion dysregulation. The Sashbear Foundation is a non-profit organization that currently delivers over 1000 peer-led groups for significant others of people with BPD and related problems per year focused on education and skills to support those with BPD. The Sashbear Foundation intends to deliver the trauma response program (TRP) that was developed by the investigative team to its network, and members of the investigative team intend to provide training and consultation to members of the Sashbear Foundation regarding the delivery of TRP.

This project involves members of the investigative team providing training/consultation to members of the Sashbear Foundation, regarding the optimal delivery of TRP. It also involves an evaluation of up to the first five TRP administrations that the Sashbear Foundation is delivering. In phase 1 of this project, the investigative team will evaluate the first delivery of the TRP at The Sashbear Foundation and solicit feedback from peer-facilitators and recipients who consent to research participation. This feedback will be used to refine the TRP manual. Recipients receiving the first TRP group at The Sashbear Foundation will specifically be invited to participate in this research which involves completing measures of PTSD, other mental health and wellness outcomes, and intervention satisfaction. These measures will be administered at baseline, the half-way point, and at the end of the intervention. TRP recipients will also be invited to complete exit interviews at the end of the intervention. Feedback regarding the manual will also be informally-solicited from peer-facilitators throughout intervention delivery, leading to refinement of the intervention.

In phase 2 of this project, the investigative team will evaluate the efficacy, acceptability, and safety of the delivery of the next two to four TRPs delivered at The Sashbear Foundation consisting of up to approximately 10 group members (maximum number of TRP recipient research participants in phase 2 is 40). TRP recipients at The Sashbear Foundation who consent to participate in research procedures will complete measures of PTSD, other mental health and wellness outcomes, and intervention satisfaction. These measures will be administered at baseline, the half-way point, the end of intervention, one month after the end of intervention, and three months after the end of intervention. Phase 1 and Phase 2 TRP peer-facilitators will also be invited to complete exit interviews with the research team following the end of the intervention to capture their experiences administering TRPs.

Being tested
Trauma Recovery Program (official title TBD)
Keywords
Posttraumatic stress disorder, Borderline personality disorder, Peer-support, Family members, Significant others
Medical subject headings
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Borderline Personality Disorder

What participants receive

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

  • Trauma Recovery Program (official title TBD)Behavioural

    See arm description

Study groups in NCT06135090
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Trauma Recovery Program (official title TBD)ExperimentalThe trauma recovery program (TRP) is a seven-session, peer-led, group program for family members/significant others of people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and emotion dysregulation. It draws on principles of cognitive processing therapy for PTSD and cognitive behavioural conjoint therapy for PTSD to target PTSD symptoms in these individuals that are related to having a loved one with BPD or emotion dysregulation. As a peer-support model, it is not a psychotherapy. The TRP involves learning about common reactions to trauma and learning methods of challenging trauma-related beliefs that inhibit trauma recovery. Group members are asked to practice exercises outside of sessions that focus on challenging beliefs that fall into several key trauma-related themes.
Receives: Behavioral: Trauma Recovery Program (official title TBD)

What is being measured

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

  1. PTSD Checklist for DSM-5

    This 20-item measure assesses post-traumatic stress symptoms

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

Secondary outcomes (18)
  1. Trauma Related Guilt Inventory (TRGI)

    This is a 32-item self- report measure that is designed to measure guilt experienced as a result of a traumatic event. It is composed of three subscales including guilt cognitions, distress, and global guilt.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  2. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)

    This is a 7-item self-report scale that assesses anxiety with excellent psychometric properties.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  3. Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 (PHQ-9)

    This is a 9-item self-report questionnaire that assesses depression.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  4. Burden Assessment Scale (BAS)

    This is a 19-item self- report questionnaire that assesses burden in caregivers of individuals with a close other with serious mental illness.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  5. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

    This is a 10-item self- report questionnaire that assesses the degree to which individuals perceive life situations as stressful.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  6. Experience of Shame Scale

    The is a 25-item self- report questionnaire that assesses feelings of embarrassment, self- consciousness, and shame.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  7. Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE)

    The is a 28-item self- report questionnaire that assesses coping styles in response to hardship.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  8. Difficulties in Regulating Emotion Scale (DERS)

    This is a 36-item self- report scale measuring emotion dysregulation.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  9. Single items from the WHOQOL-100

    3 items from the 100-item self-report questionnaire will be used to measure perceived health, work functioning, and quality of life

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  10. Dyadic Adjustment Scale - 1 item

    1 item from this self- report measure will be used to assess satisfaction with the relationship with one's close other with BPD/emotion dysregulation

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  11. Ineffective Arguing Inventory

    This is an 8-item self- report measure that assesses the quality of arguments between the individual in the study and their close other with BPD/emotion dysregulation.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  12. The Family Questionnaire

    This is a 20-item measure that assesses expressed emotion in the context of having a close other with serious mental illness.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  13. Posttraumatic Growth Inventory

    This is a 21-item measure that assesses growth and self-improvement that follows a stressful encounter.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  14. Self Compassion Scale-Short form

    This is a 12-item self- report questionnaire that assesses one's self- compassion.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  15. Brief Resilience Scale

    This is a 5-item self-report measure that assesses the ability to bounce back from stressors.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  16. Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory-self blame subscale

    This is a 5-item subscale that examines the extent to which people feel self- blame for traumatic experiences

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  17. PANAS-hostility scale

    Six items measuring past week anger/hostility.

    Measured: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).

  18. Client Satisfaction Questionnaire

    This is an 8-item scale examining the extent to which people feel satisfied with the program they received

    Measured: 7 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted18 Nov 2023
  2. Study start1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Jan 2028 (estimated)

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 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
The trauma recovery program (TRP) is a seven-session, peer-led, group program for family members/significant others of people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and emotion dysregulation. It draws on principles of cognitive processing therapy for PTSD and cognitive behavioural conjoint therapy for PTSD to target PTSD symptoms in these individuals that are related to having a loved one with BPD or emotion dysregulation. As a peer-support model, it is not a psychotherapy. The TRP involves learning about common reactions to trauma and learning methods of challenging trauma-related beliefs that inhibit trauma recovery. Group members are asked to practice exercises outside of sessions that focus on challenging beliefs that fall into several key trauma-related themes.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06135090
Sponsor's protocol ID
4054
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
6 Nov 2023
Last updated
29 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Data from Phase 2 will be de-identified and posted on an online and public data repository in order to promote integrity of the research and allow other researchers to replicate our findings using this data.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Trauma Recovery Program (official title TBD) in people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Family Members, run by York University at 1 site in Canada.

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 2 inclusion and 2 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. 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. 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 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

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

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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

Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (time frame: Baseline, 3-4 weeks, 7 weeks, 13 weeks (phase 2 only), 17 weeks (phase 2 only).). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 29 Jul 2026.

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