Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in AdolescenceNCT07165782
Brief Videos Delivered by Text Messages as a Public Health Intervention for PTSD in Youth
A study testing Brief Videos Delivered by Text Message in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescence and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, run by IWK Health Centre at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if informational videos (the intervention) sent by text messages can help young people (age 15 - 25) manage symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 15 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescence, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Youth
- What is being tested?
- Brief Videos Delivered by Text Message
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 98 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 10 Sep 2025to 30 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 15 to 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Likely diagnosis of PTSD as indicated by a minimum score of 31 on the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist
- Direct exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence or through witnessing, learning it happened to a close relation as assessed by the Life Events Checklist
- Between 15 and 25 years old at time of enrolment
- Access to a mobile phone and a data plan that allows them to receive text messages and videos
- Live in Canada
Who cannot join
- Presence of active suicidality, determined by items from the Patient Safety Screener
- Active symptoms of psychosis, indicated by a brief Psychosis Screener Questionnaire
- An inability to read and/or understand English
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, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
IWK Health
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 6R8
Adam Cummins, 902-470-7552, adam.cummins@iwk.nshealth.ca
About this study
Official title: Brief Videos Delivered by Text Messages as a Public Health Intervention for PTSD in Youth: A Feasibility and Acceptability Randomized Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if informational videos (the intervention) sent by text messages can help young people (age 15 - 25) manage symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is a small-scale trial to evaluate whether the intervention has potential to be effective, whether it is feasible to carry out a bigger study, and whether youth find the intervention acceptable.The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does the intervention help youth reduce their symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, improve how well they function day-to-day, and lead to post-traumatic growth.
- Will it be possible to conduct a larger study on the intervention (e.g., are we able to attract participants to take part in the study; do participants follow through with the intervention and the study) and is the intervention acceptable to youth (e.g., do they watch the videos, and rate the videos as useful, interesting, understandable, and relevant)?
Read more
Researchers will compare those who receive the intervention right away to those who wait to receive the intervention to see if there are differences between groups.
Videos will teach youth about PTSD and provide the opportunity to practice strategies that have been shown to help with reduce symptoms of PTSD, such as exposure, reducing avoidance, social support, and coping strategies (e.g., changing your thoughts, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation).
The study is fully online. Participants will be randomly placed in one of two groups:
- Intervention Group: Gets three PTSD-related text messages per week for 10 weeks. They will also be asked to rate each of the videos on how helpful you found them.
- Waitlist Group: Does not receive text messages until AFTER the final surveys for the study are completed (i.e., 5 months), then will receive the intervention.
Everyone will be asked to complete online surveys about their mental health and functioning 3 times during the study:
- Beginning of the study
- 10 weeks into the study
- 3 months after the videos end (end of study)
- Conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescence, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Youth
- Being tested
- Brief Videos Delivered by Text Message
- Keywords
- posttraumatic stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma, public health, rct, text message, video intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Combat Disorders, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Wounds and Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Brief Videos Delivered by Text MessageBehavioural
The intervention consists of brief videos delivered by text message, designed to deliver psychoeducation, coping strategies, and social support guidance for youth with PTSD. The focus is to reduce avoidance behaviors, increase exposure, change cognitions and enhance social support.
The text messages will follow a six-module curriculum, covering key PTSD recovery topics:
- Psychoeducation on PTSD - Understanding symptoms, trauma responses, and brain plasticity.
- Reducing Avoidance - Encouraging gradual engagement with feared thoughts and situations.
- Cognitive Coping Strategies - Introducing cognitive restructuring techniques.
- Behavioral Coping Strategies - Teaching relaxation techniques (e.g., deep breathing, grounding).
- Social Support - Highlighting the role of social support and strategies to strengthen connections.
- Maintenance and Relapse Prevention - Preparing for setbacks and reinforcing progress.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Brief Video Intervention | Active comparator | Participants will receive three text messages per week for 10 weeks. Each message contains a link to a video providing information about PTSD and coping strategies. Receives: Behavioral: Brief Videos Delivered by Text Message |
| Control Group | No intervention | The control group will receive no intervention. They will have access to the intervention after they complete all study activities, however they will not be included in the data analysis. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Posttraumatic Stress as Assessed by the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) at 10 Weeks (End of Treatment)
The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure assessing PTSD symptom severity based on Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Participants rate how much symptoms have bothered them in the past month on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Symptom scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. A score of 31 or higher indicates a probable diagnosis of PTSD.
Measured: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in Posttraumatic Stress as Assessed by the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) at 3 Months After Treatment
The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure assessing PTSD symptom severity based on Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Participants rate how much symptoms have bothered them in the past month on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Symptom scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. A score of 31 or higher indicates a probable diagnosis of PTSD.
Measured: 3 Months After Treatment (22 weeks after enrolment)
Change in Anxiety Score as Measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) at 10 Weeks After Enrolment (Post-Treatment) and 3 Months After Treatment
The GAD-7 is a 7-item measure assessing generalized anxiety symptoms. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety severity.
Measured: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.
Change in Depression Score as Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at 10 Weeks After Enrolment (Post-Treatment) and 3 Months After Treatment
The PHQ-9 is a 9-item measure assessing depression symptoms. Higher scores indicate greater depression severity.
Measured: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.
Change in Functional Impairment Scores as Measured by the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) at 10 Weeks After Enrolment (Post-Treatment) and 3 Months After Treatment.
The SDS will assess the severity of functional impairment. Higher scores indicate more impairment.
Measured: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.
Change in Posttraumatic Growth as Measured by The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory - Short Form (PTGI-SF) at 10 Weeks After Enrolment and 3 Months After Treatment
The PTGI-SF is a 10-item measure assessing positive psychological changes following trauma.
Measured: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Sep 2025
- Study start10 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion10 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in AdolescenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 98 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- IWK Health Centre
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Patrick J. McGrath, IWK Health Centre
- Investigators
- Patrick J McGrath, PhD, Principal investigator, IWK Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07165782
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1031707
- Other IDs
- FDN148371
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 3 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 10 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: During the informed consent process, study participants are invited to provide consent for their de-identified study data to be shared with other researchers only with the consent of the study participants. Data from those who consent may be shared with researchers provided they have ethics board approval. All participant data except for identifying data may be shared.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Brief Videos Delivered by Text Messages as a Public Health Intervention for PTSD in Youth: A Feasibility and Acceptability Randomized Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07165782
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1031707
- Conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescence, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Youth
- Keywords
- posttraumatic stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma, public health, rct, text message, video intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 98 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- IWK Health CentreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 10 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if informational videos (the intervention) sent by text messages can help young people (age 15 - 25) manage symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is a small-scale trial to evaluate whether the intervention has potential to be effective, whether it is feasible to carry out a bigger study, and whether youth find the intervention acceptable.The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does the intervention help youth reduce their symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, improve how well they function day-to-day, and lead to post-traumatic growth.
- Will it be possible to conduct a larger study on the intervention (e.g., are we able to attract participants to take part in the study; do participants follow through with the intervention and the study) and is the intervention acceptable to youth (e.g., do they watch the videos, and rate the videos as useful, interesting, understandable, and relevant)?
Researchers will compare those who receive the intervention right away to those who wait to receive the intervention to see if there are differences between groups.
Videos will teach youth about PTSD and provide the opportunity to practice strategies that have been shown to help with reduce symptoms of PTSD, such as exposure, reducing avoidance, social support, and coping strategies (e.g., changing your thoughts, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation).
The study is fully online. Participants will be randomly placed in one of two groups:
- Intervention Group: Gets three PTSD-related text messages per week for 10 weeks. They will also be asked to rate each of the videos on how helpful you found them.
- Waitlist Group: Does not receive text messages until AFTER the final surveys for the study are completed (i.e., 5 months), then will receive the intervention.
Everyone will be asked to complete online surveys about their mental health and functioning 3 times during the study:
- Beginning of the study
- 10 weeks into the study
- 3 months after the videos end (end of study)
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Brief Video Intervention | Active comparator | Behavioral: Brief Videos Delivered by Text MessageParticipants will receive three text messages per week for 10 weeks. Each message contains a link to a video providing information about PTSD and coping strategies. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –The control group will receive no intervention. They will have access to the intervention after they complete all study activities, however they will not be included in the data analysis. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 15 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Likely diagnosis of PTSD as indicated by a minimum score of 31 on the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist
- Direct exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence or through witnessing, learning it happened to a close relation as assessed by the Life Events Checklist
- Between 15 and 25 years old at time of enrolment
- Access to a mobile phone and a data plan that allows them to receive text messages and videos
- Live in Canada
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Presence of active suicidality, determined by items from the Patient Safety Screener
- Active symptoms of psychosis, indicated by a brief Psychosis Screener Questionnaire
- An inability to read and/or understand English
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Brief Videos Delivered by Text MessageThe intervention consists of brief videos delivered by text message, designed to deliver psychoeducation, coping strategies, and social support guidance for youth with PTSD. The focus is to reduce avoidance behaviors, increase exposure, change cognitions and enhance social support. The text messages will follow a six-module curriculum, covering key PTSD recovery topics: 1. Psychoeducation on PTSD - Understanding symptoms, trauma responses, and brain plasticity. 2. Reducing Avoidance - Encouraging gradual engagement with feared thoughts and situations. 3. Cognitive Coping Strategies - Introducing cognitive restructuring techniques. 4. Behavioral Coping Strategies - Teaching relaxation techniques (e.g., deep breathing, grounding). 5. Social Support - Highlighting the role of social support and strategies to strengthen connections. 6. Maintenance and Relapse Prevention - Preparing for setbacks and reinforcing progress. | Behavioural | Brief Video Intervention |
Primary outcome
Change in Posttraumatic Stress as Assessed by the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) at 10 Weeks (End of Treatment)
Time frame: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks
The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure assessing PTSD symptom severity based on Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Participants rate how much symptoms have bothered them in the past month on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Symptom scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. A score of 31 or higher indicates a probable diagnosis of PTSD.
5 secondary outcomes
Change in Posttraumatic Stress as Assessed by the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) at 3 Months After Treatment
Time frame: 3 Months After Treatment (22 weeks after enrolment)
Change in Anxiety Score as Measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) at 10 Weeks After Enrolment (Post-Treatment) and 3 Months After Treatment
Time frame: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.
Change in Depression Score as Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at 10 Weeks After Enrolment (Post-Treatment) and 3 Months After Treatment
Time frame: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.
Change in Functional Impairment Scores as Measured by the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) at 10 Weeks After Enrolment (Post-Treatment) and 3 Months After Treatment.
Time frame: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.
Change in Posttraumatic Growth as Measured by The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory - Short Form (PTGI-SF) at 10 Weeks After Enrolment and 3 Months After Treatment
Time frame: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Sep 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. During the informed consent process, study participants are invited to provide consent for their de-identified study data to be shared with other researchers only with the consent of the study participants. Data from those who consent may be shared with researchers provided they have ethics board approval. All participant data except for identifying data may be shared.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Patrick J McGrath, PhD principal investigator
IWK Health
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Brief Videos Delivered by Text Message in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescence and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, run by IWK Health Centre 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 5 inclusion and 3 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Sep 2025. 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.
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?
Contact Patrick J McGrath, PhD (+13435588921, patrick.mcgrath@iwk.nshealth.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Posttraumatic Stress as Assessed by the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) at 10 Weeks (End of Treatment) (time frame: From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks). 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 10 Sep 2025.