An interventional study of SMART in PTSD and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, sponsored by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's. Recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-22.
Sponsored by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study will investigate whether a movement and body-based treatment can benefit adults with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The treatment is called Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment, or "SMART", and study participation involves 8 sessions of SMART, as well as pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up assessments.
This study will investigate the use of SMART (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment) with adults experiencing symptoms related to PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). In addition to the more well-known symptoms of PTSD (e.g., intrusive memories, avoidance, hypervigilance, and emotion dysregulation), chronic traumatic stress seems to overwhelm the brain's capacity to make sense of sensory information, affecting how traumatized people experience their own bodies and their surroundings. SMART builds on the sensory integration theory of intentionally engaging the senses via movement, touch, body awareness, and balance. The SMART protocol has been used effectively to treat children who have experienced psychological trauma, and the investigators will be investigating its use with adults. Participants enrolled in the study will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions - i) SMART, or ii) wait list (i.e., delayed treatment). Study participation will involve 8, 1-hour sessions of SMART, as well as pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up assessments. For those assigned to the wait list condition, the same 8 SMART sessions will be offered after the 3-month follow-up assessment is complete, with no further assessment required.
2,239 studies on the registry are indexed under Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; 553 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 80 is above the median of 70 across 1,856 interventional studies indexed under Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic.
Browse Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic studies →London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's is the lead sponsor of 309 studies on the registry; 126 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants in the active SMART condition will complete 8 individual, 1-hour, weekly sessions of SMART with a therapist, as well as pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up assessments.
Behavioral: SMART
Participants in the Wait List condition will receive no treatment for approximately 8 weeks, and they will be asked to complete pre-wait list, post-wait list and 3-month follow-up assessments. After all assessments have been completed, this group will be offered the same 8 individual, 1-hour, weekly sessions of SMART (no further assessments needed).
A movement and body-based intervention in which participants are encouraged to explore the use of sensory equipment, which may help reduce symptoms related to psychological trauma/PTSD. Sensory equipment includes exercise balls, mini-trampoline, weighted blankets, and a hammock swing.
Change in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score from pre-treatment to post-treatment assessment.
Gold standard, clinician-administered PTSD assessment tool; min. score=0, max.=80, with higher scores representing greater PTSD symptoms
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score from post-treatment to 3-month follow-up assessment.
Gold standard, clinician-administered PTSD assessment tool; min. score=0, max.=80, with higher scores representing greater PTSD symptoms
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-II) score from pre-treatment to post-treatment assessment.
A state-trait, self-report questionnaire with 32 items to measure multiple dimensions of interoception (e.g., awareness of the senses). Higher scores indicate beneficial self-reported interoception.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-II) score from post-treatment to 3-month follow-up assessment.
A state-trait, self-report questionnaire with 32 items to measure multiple dimensions of interoception (e.g., awareness of the senses). Higher scores indicate beneficial self-reported interoception.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Plan to share: No — Only coded data will be shared with co-investigators who are registered with the study's ethics board application.
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Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic→
London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's