Brief Videos Delivered by Text Messages as a Public Health Intervention for PTSD in Youth

NCT07165782 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 1031707FDN148371
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 98
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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). 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:

• 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

Keywords

posttraumatic stress disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder; trauma; public health; rct; text message; video intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 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.

  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

  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

  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

  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.

  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

  From enrolment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks and 3 months after treatment ends.

Other Outcomes (1)

• Feasibility and Acceptability as Measured by Engagement and Video Ratings

  From enrolment to end of treatment (10 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

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.

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.

Interventions

Brief Videos Delivered by Text Message BEHAVIORAL

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: 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.

Brief Video Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• IWK Health Centre: lead

Study Sites (1)

IWK Health

Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 6R8, Canada

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Combat Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Wounds and Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Patrick J McGrath, PhD

  IWK Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Patrick J McGrath, PhD

CONTACT

+13435588921; patrick.mcgrath@iwk.nshealth.ca

Research Coordinator

CONTACT

+19024707552; text4ptsd@iwk.nshealth.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2025
• First Posted: September 10, 2025
• Study Start: September 10, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026
• Last Updated: September 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

CA (1)