The purpose of this study is to test the differences between four active treatment conditions for combat-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): virtual reality exposure therapy (VRE) or prolonged imaginal exposure therapy (PE), both with DCS or placebo, as well as to examine predictors for PTSD and response to treatment in active duty military personnel, veterans, and civilians who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Name: DCS (D-Cycloserine ) + Prolonged Imaginal Exposure
Name: DCS (D-Cycloserine ) + Virtual Reality Exposure
Name: Placebo + Prolonged Imaginal Exposure
Name: Placebo (sugar pill) + Virtual Reality Exposure
Description: Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) for the DSM-IV [34]. The CAPS-IV is a structured clinical interview designed to assess the 17 DSM-IV PTSD symptoms. CAPS-IV provides categorical ratings of diagnostic status as well as a quantitative index of symptom severity. The CAPS total severity score is based on response to the 17 items that assess the frequency and intensity of current PTSD symptoms. Symptom severity is assessed separately for past month and past week time frames. CAPS-IV range is 0-136, higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Measure: CAPS-IV at the End of Treatment Time: after weekly treatment session 9 (at posttreatment assessment)Allocation: Randomized
Parallel Assignment
There is one SNP
heart rate, blood pressure) and/or a genetic polymorphism (BDNF Val66Met) obtained from a saliva sample will be examined. --- Val66Met ---