A Phase 2 interventional study of Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Placebo in Acute Stress Reaction, Acute Stress Disorder and Neurocognitive Function, sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Recruiting at 9 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 55 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-01.
Sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Phase 2, Interventional, and Prevention
This study will examine the safety and efficacy of TNX-102 SL to reduce ASR symptoms and behavioral changes among patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) after motor vehicle collision (MVC). Specifically, the investigators will perform the Optimizing Acute Stress reaction Interventions with TNX-102 SL (OASIS) Trial, a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) to determine if TNX-102 SL initiated in the ED in the hours after MVC to high risk individuals, treats/reduces acute stress reaction (ASR)/acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms (primary outcome), improves neurocognitive function, and prevents/reduces posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms (secondary outcomes) long term. 180 participants will be randomized, receive study drug in ED and be discharged with a 2-week drug supply. Prior to initial dose of study drug administration, and during the hours, days, and weeks after participants will receive serial longitudinal assessments of psychological and somatic symptoms, neurocognitive function, and adverse events.
U.S. military personnel are exposed to life-threatening traumatic events (e.g., intense firefights with multiple casualties) that result in acute stress reaction (ASR) symptoms (ICD-10) and posttraumatic stress (PTS). Similarly, acute and persistent stress symptoms, and related adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae, are also very common and cause a tremendous burden of suffering in civilian populations following exposure to life-threatening traumatic events (e.g., motor vehicle collision, violent or accidental death of a loved one, and assault). TNX-102 SL (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablet) is being developed for the management of fibromyalgia (FM), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc; the FM program is in mid-Phase 3 development and PTSD is Phase 3 ready. In previous PTSD and fibromyalgia studies, TNX-102 SL has demonstrated the ability to improve sleep quality, which, based on published clinical studies of fear memory and stress responsiveness, has been shown to play a significant role in stress recovery. To date, TNX-102 SL has undergone an intense nonclinical and clinical development including Phase 1, 2, and 3 studies that assessed safety in over 1,180 subjects. TNX-102 SL is an extremely promising agent to reduce ASR symptoms and related behavioral changes, to enhance resilience and improve warfighter performance, and to reduce the frequency and severity of persistent/chronic PTS symptoms. The results of this study will ultimately provide military personnel, veterans, and civilians with an important new treatment option that, when administered in the early aftermath of traumatic stress exposure, can improve recovery, job performance, and quality of life.
Exclusion Criteria:
In addition to the lab results in exclusion #13 above, exclude patients who report the following and or if the following are in medical records -
As part of additional screening, exclude patients who answer yes to any of the questions listed below-
Participants will be instructed to take a half dose (equivalent to 1 tablet, 2.8 mg) of Cyclobenzaprine HCl in the ED as part of enrollment procedures. If the time between the first half dose and the planned bedtime of the participant is less than 6 hours, participants will be instructed to take 1 tablet (half dose) the first night at bedtime. If the time between the first half dose and planned bedtime of the participant is greater than or equal to 6 hours, then participants will be instructed to take a full dose (equivalent to 2 tablets) the first night. Over the following 13 days, all participants will be instructed to take a full dose of the study drug at bedtime. Each participant will receive 29 tablets and take either 28 or 29 tablets total for the duration of study participation.
Drug: Cyclobenzaprine HCl
Participants will be instructed to take a half dose (equivalent to 1 tablet, 2.8 mg) of placebo in the ED as part of enrollment procedures. The placebo is the same formulation as active except the Cyclobenzaprine HCl content is replaced by Mannitol to maintain the same tablet weight and dimensions. If the time between the first half dose and the planned bedtime of the participant is less than 6 hours, participants will be instructed to take 1 tablet (half dose) the first night at bedtime. If the time between the first half dose and planned bedtime of the participant is greater than or equal to 6 hours, then participants will be instructed to take a full dose (equivalent to 2 tablets) the first night. Over the following 13 days, all participants will be instructed to take a full dose of the study drug at bedtime. Each participant will receive 29 tablets and take either 28 or 29 tablets total for the duration of study participation.
Drug: Placebo
TNX-102 SL (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablets) taken sublingually (under the tongue) in the ED and each day at bedtime for a total of 2 weeks.
Also known as: TNX-102 SL
Placebo sublingual tablets taken sublingually (under the tongue) in the ED and each day at bedtime for a total of 2 weeks.
Also known as: Sugar pill
Change in ASD Score
Individuals are asked to complete the 14-item Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS) self-report inventory where each item is rated on a 5-point scale (0= Not at all; 1= Mildly; 2= Medium; 3= Quite a bit; 4= Very Much) that indexes acute stress disorder (ASD). Range of possible total scores is 0-56, with higher total scores indicating greater acute stress symptoms.
Time frame: Week 1, 3 after MVC
Median reaction time of correct responses (general cognitive function)
General cognitive function will be assessed using the Test My Brain Digit Symbol Matching Test. Participants will be asked to match symbols and numbers using a symbol-number key shown on screen. General cognitive function is assessed via measuring median reaction time of correct responses (medianRTc) to 'test' trials. Range for medianRTc (ms) is 0-30000.
Time frame: Min 30, Hour 1, 6, 12, Day 1, 2, 3, Week 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12 after MVC
Median reaction time of correct responses (procedural reaction time)
Procedural reaction time will be assessed using the Test My Brain Choice Reaction Time Test. Participants see a set of three arrows, where one arrow is a different color from the rest. The participant presses left or right to indicate the direction of the odd colored arrow. Reaction time is assessed via measuring median reaction time of correct responses (medianRTc) to 'test' trials. Range for medianRTc (ms) is 0-5000.
Time frame: Min 30, Hour 1, 6, 12, Day 1, 2, 3, Week 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12 after MVC
Proportion of targets correctly identified (visuospatial processing and attention)
Visuospatial processing and attention will be assessed using the Test My Brain Multiple Object Tracking Test. In this test of visuospatial processing and attention, participants have to track a set of target circles around the screen (amidst a field of distractors) that move at increasing speed with each trial. Once the circles stop moving, participants select which were targets must identify targets instead of distractors. Visuospatial processing and attention are assessed via the proportion of targets correctly identified. Range for measure is 0-1.
Time frame: Min 30, Hour 1, 6, 12, Day 1, 2, 3, Week 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12 after MVC
d-prime identification (psychomotor vigilance)
Psychomotor vigilance will be assessed via the Test My Brain Gradual Onset Continuous Performance Test. In this task, participants monitor a stream of city and mountain images that rapidly fade from one to the next with no interstimulus interval. Participants are asked to press/touch for each city image and to withhold for each mountain image. Vigilance is assessed via measuring d-prime for identification of each city image, a signal detection-based measure that takes into account both hits and false alarms to provide an unbiased estimate of performance where higher values reflect better performance. Response inhibition is defined as the suppression of actions that are inappropriate in a given context. Response inhibition is assessed using results from the above, by measuring the number of commission errors (failure to withhold responses) where most positive scores reflect more impulsive responding. Range for measure is -4.2279 - 4.2279.
Time frame: Min 30, Hour 1, 6, 12, Day 1, 2, 3, Week 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12 after MVC
Change in Pain Symptom Score
The Regional Pain Scale (RPS) will be used to assess the extent of body pain. 13 items will be scored on a 0-10 pain scale where 0 is no pain and 10 is severe pain. Range of possible total scores is 0-130, with higher total scores indicative of greater pain symptoms
Time frame: Baseline, Week 1, 3, 6, 12 after MVC
Change in Depressive Symptoms Score
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression Short Form 8b; an 8-item scale, and one question from the PROMIS Depression Item Bank will be aggregated/combined to assess depression. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale where 0 is "none of the time" and 5 means "all or almost all of the time". Range of possible total scores is 0-45, with higher total scores indicative of greater depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 1, 3, 6, 12 after MVC
Change in Somatic Symptom Score
The Pennebaker Inventory of Limbic Languidness (PILL) assesses the frequency of common physical symptoms and sensations. We will use a version with adapted response options for greater consistency across measures, greater precision in response levels, and to allow administration via self-report. 20 items will be scored on a 0-10 scale where 0 is "no problem" and 10 means "major problem". Range of possible total scores is 0-200, with higher total scores indicative of greater somatic symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 1, 3, 6, 12 after MVC
Change in PTSD Symptoms
The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assesses PTSD symptoms as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th Edition (DSM-5). 20 items will be scored on a five-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely"). Range of possible total scores is 0-80, with higher total scores indicative of greater PTSD symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 1, 3, 6, 12 after MVC
Plan to share: Yes — Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 12 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with UNC.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Icf
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute→
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill