July 14th 2016 Nice Terrorist Attack Court Trial: A Protocol on Sleep Quality and Somatic Symptoms as Markers of Risk for Traumatic Reactivation in Adolescents Exposed to This Attack

The court trial of the 14th of July 2016 terrorist attack in Nice (France) opened in September 2022 and ended in December 2022. Engaging in court proceedings, whether as a victim or a witness, can lead to a significant risk of traumatic reactivation (i.e., the re-emergence of post-traumatic stress symptoms). The present protocol aimed to improve knowledge of the pathophysiology of traumatic reactivation due to the media coverage of the trial by assessing sleep disturbances and somatic symptoms that could reappear if there is a traumatic reactivation. Method and Analysis: This is a monocentric longitudinal study, with recruitment solely planned at the Nice Pediatric Psychotrauma Center (NPPC). We intended to include 100 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who were directly or indirectly exposed to the attack and included in the 14-7 program). Assessments began one month before the trial, in August 2022, and were scheduled once a month until the end of the trial. A smartwatch recorded sleep activity. Somatic and PTSD symptoms and sleep were assessed through validated questionnaires. The main analyses comprised the variance and regression analyses of predictors of clinical evolution over time. Ethics and Dissemination: The National Ethics Committee NORD OUEST III approved the 14-7 program protocol (number 2017-A02212-51). The specific amendment for this research was approved in April 2022 by the same national ethical committee. Inclusions started in August 2022.

Automated summary

This study aims to improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of traumatic reactivation caused by the court trial of the 2016 terrorist attack in Nice, France, by assessing sleep disturbances and somatic symptoms. It is a monocentric longitudinal study conducted at the Nice Pediatric Psychotrauma Center, aiming to include 100 adolescents aged 12 to 17 who were directly or indirectly exposed to the attack. Assessments were conducted monthly starting one month before the trial.