Effect of Propranolol on Preventing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2008-05-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study will assess the effectiveness of taking propranolol soon after a traumatizing incident in reducing the incidence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder in acutely traumatized individuals.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Collaborator: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Treatments: Propranolol

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Experienced an acute psychological traumatic event

• Heart rate of 80 beats per minute (bpm) or greater

• Understands English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Traumatic event that occurred more than four hours before arrival to emergency department

• Physical injury that may affect safe participation (e.g., head injury)

• Systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg

• Medical or surgical condition that poses a risk of shock

• Medical condition that may affect the safe administration of propranolol

• Previous adverse reaction to, or non-compliance with, a beta-blocker

• Current use of medication that may react badly with propranolol

• Elevated saliva alcohol level

• Presence of salivary opiates, marijuana, cocaine, or amphetamines

• Pregnant or breastfeeding

• Traumatic event reflecting ongoing victimization

• Psychiatric condition that may affect safe participation

• Unwilling or unable to commute to Boston for research visits

• Attending physician in emergency department does not advise participation