Understanding Neurocognitive Impairment After Trauma Exposure

NCT05090046 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 11896201PQF
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 128
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Individuals living in Canterbury (New Zealand) have experienced significant stress related to the Canterbury earthquake sequence. Previous research conducted at the Department of Psychological Medicine (Christchurch, New Zealand) has shown significant cognitive difficulties in a group of Cantabrians exposed to high levels of earthquake trauma. A high proportion (30%) perceive themselves to have significant cognitive difficulties, even seven years post-earthquake. People who perceive that they have cognitive difficulties find this distressing and tend to function less well in work and parenting. Understanding pathways underlying cognitive difficulties in the population is vital for developing appropriate treatments and strategies to help with this. This will be the first study to investigate rates of, and factors contributing to, perceived cognitive difficulties in a large population exposed to multiple stressors and is important for the population of Canterbury, and populations affected by natural and man-made disasters worldwide. Four hundred and sixty people who were exposed to the Canterbury earthquake sequence will be recruited from the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS). Psychological, cognitive, functional and biological factors will be compared between those with the greatest levels of perceived cognitive difficulty and those with the lowest levels of difficulty. This will determine what factors relate most strongly to perceived cognitive difficulties, which will in turn be used to develop treatments for this population.

Conditions

Trauma, Psychological; Earthquake

Keywords

Trauma; Earthquake; Cognitive impairment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Subjective cognitive function

  Assessed with the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire Minimum score = 0, maximum score = 100, higher scores reflect worse subjective cognitive function

  Past 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (18)

• Global cognitive composite

  Baseline

• Verbal learning and memory

  Baseline

• Visuospatial learning and memory

  Baseline

• Psychomotor speed

  Baseline

• Executive function

  Baseline

Other Outcomes (1)

• Data already obtained

  1977 to current

Study Arms (1)

Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS)

The Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) is a birth cohort study comprising 1265 people born in Christchurch in 1977. Participants have been followed to age 40, with 75-80% retention at data collection points.

Other: Trauma exposure

Interventions

Trauma exposure OTHER

Exposure to the Canterbury earthquake sequence and other relevant psychological trauma

Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 44 Years - 46 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) is a birth cohort study comprising 1265 people born in Christchurch in 1977. Participants have been followed to age 40, with 75-80% retention at data collection points. At the time of the February 2011 earthquake, 460 participants were in Christchurch and were subject to earthquake-related stresses. This study will recruit people from the CHDS who were exposed to the Canterbury earthquake sequence, based on results of an initial screening using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ): the quartile with the highest scores on the CFQ, and the quartile with the lowest scores will be selected and invited to attend a more comprehensive evaluation.

You may qualify if:

• Cohort member of the Christchurch Health and Development Study (born in 1977)
• Exposed to the Canterbury earthquake sequence
• In the highest or lowest quartile with regards to score on the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire

You may not qualify if:

• lifetime diagnosed psychotic disorder
• previous moderate to severe head injury (\> 30 minutes loss of consciousness)
• current pregnancy
• intellectual disability (IQ \< 80)
• residing outside of Canterbury

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Otago: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch

Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Douglas K, Bell C, Tanveer S, Eggleston K, Porter R, Boden J. UNITE Project: understanding neurocognitive impairment after trauma exposure-study protocol of an observational study in Christchurch, New Zealand. BMJ Open. 2023 Aug 7;13(8):e072195. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072195.

  PMID: 37550025 DERIVED

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITHOUT DNA

Blood samples will be collected to assess the following biological markers: * Hormones (females only): progesterone, LH, FSH, testosterone, SHBG * Metabolic markers: total chol, HDL chol, LDL chol (calc), triglycerides, HbA1c * Inflammatory markers: CRP

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Trauma; Wounds and Injuries; Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders

Study Officials

• Katie M Douglas, PhD

  University of Otago

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 22, 2021
• First Posted: October 22, 2021
• Study Start: February 10, 2022
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2024
• Study Completion: February 1, 2024
• Last Updated: May 9, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-05

Locations

NZ (1)