Completed

Pharmacologic Treatment of PTSD in Sexually Abused Children

What is being tested

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

+ Sertraline Pill

+ Placebo Oral Tablet

BehavioralDrug

Who is being recruted

Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders+1

+ Mental Disorders

+ Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

From 10 to 17 Years

See all eligibility criteria

How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Phase 3

Interventional

Study Start: April 2001

See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorAllegheny Singer Research Institute (also known as Allegheny Health Network Research Institute)

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: April 1, 2001

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

Adult research has demonstrated the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in decreasing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms; to date the SSRIs are the only medication class with demonstrated efficacy in treating all three PTSD symptom clusters (reexperiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal). No studies have evaluated the impact of SSRIs on PTSD symptoms in children or adolescents. Trauma-focused CBT has been shown in several studies to be efficacious in decreasing PTSD symptoms in sexually abused children and adolescents. Many children and youth with PTSD are currently prescribed SSRIs and other medications. This study will evaluate whether adding the SSRI sertraline provides additional benefits over TF-CBT treatment for sexually abused children and adolescents with PTSD. If adequate numbers of children with comorbid PTSD and depressive and/or anxiety disorders are included, it may also be possible to evaluate whether any benefit of adding sertraline is restricted to those children with comorbid disorders.

Official TitlePharmacologic Treatment of PTSD in Sexually Abused Children

NCT00078767

Principal SponsorAllegheny Singer Research Institute (also known as Allegheny Health Network Research Institute)

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

Design Details

24 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Conditions

Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 10 to 17 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Trauma and Stressor Related DisordersMental DisordersStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticStress Disorders, Traumatic

Criteria

Inclusion: 1. Ages 10-17 years, inclusive 2. Confirmed sexual abuse 3. At least 5 PTSD symptoms on KSADS-PL, with at least one symptom in each of 3 symptom clusters (reexperiencing, avoidance, arousal) 4. Parent/primary caregiver available to participate in treatment 5. Assent with parental consent to participate Exclusion: 1. Non-English speaking 2. schizophrenia or other severe psychotic disorder 3. MR (IQ\<60) or PDD preventing CBT treatment 4. taking current psychotropic medication 5. documented substance dependence (substance abuse allowed)

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.

Treatment Groups

Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental

Trauma-Focused CBT provided individually to youth and parent for 12 sessions (90 minute sessions; 45 minutes for youth; 45 minutes for parent); plus Sertraline provided in dosage titrated as clinically indicated by child psychiatrist blind to treatment assignment, from 50mg/day to a maximum dosage of 150 mg/day

Group II

Active Comparator

Trauma-Focused CBT provided individually to youth and parent for 12 sessions (90 minute sessions; 45 minutes for youth; 45 minutes for parent); plus placebo identical to Sertraline, provided in pill form and titrated as clinically indicated by child psychiatrist blind to treatment assignment, from 1 to 3 pills/day (identical in appearance to 50 to 150mg/day of Sertraline)

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

Allegheny General Hospital Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents

Pittsburgh, United StatesSee the location

CompletedOne Study Center