NCT05534126: SGB

Enhancing Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Via Stellate Ganglion Block Treatment: A Pilot Trial

Completed NA Last updated 24 October 2025

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Stellate Ganglion Block Treatment in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in 60 participants. Completed in 30 September 2025.

Timeline

1 November 2022

Primary endpoint
30 September 2025

30 September 2025

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Rush University Medical Center
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	triple
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	60
Start date	1 November 2022
Primary completion	30 September 2025
Estimated completion	30 September 2025
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• Stellate Ganglion Block Treatment
• Placebo

Conditions studied

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder — all drugs for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder →
• Chronic Pain — all drugs for Chronic Pain →

Sponsor

Rush University Medical Center

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or Chronic Pain. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an effective first-line, evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite its well-demonstrated effectiveness, research has shown that approximately two-thirds of individuals continue to meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD even after successful treatment completion. Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatment, involving a local anesthesia injection to the stellate ganglion (around the lower base of the neck), has been shown to block its pain signal transmissions. Prior case studies and reviews have provided evidence for reducing PTSD symptoms with SGB treatment. However, studies to date have only examined SGB as a standalone intervention. The utility of combining CPT with concurrent SGB treatment remains unknown, although it is plausible that the combination of the two treatments can improve the effectiveness of CPT alone. The present study aims to test this hypothesis by comparing either a combined 1-week massed CPT + SGB treatment and 1-week massed CPT + placebo treatment (saline injection) using a randomized controlled trial design.

Publications & conference data

3 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Differential posttraumatic stress disorder symptom cluster response to stellate ganglion block: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.
   Blakey SM, Rae Olmsted KL, Hirsch S, Asman K, et al · · 2024 · cited 5× · PMID 38811568 · DOI 10.1038/s41398-024-02926-8
2. Tracking individualized stuck points in cognitive processing therapy: The amount of change matters.
   Held P, Szoke DR, Pridgen SA, Smith DL. · · 2025 · cited 2× · PMID 40339138 · DOI 10.1002/jts.23155
3. Optimizing clinical outcomes with stellate ganglion block and trauma-informed care: A review article.
   Springer S, Whitmer P, Steinlin M, Gray L, et al · · 2024 · cited 1× · PMID 38995805 · DOI 10.3233/nre-230236