PTSD Symptom Reduction by Propranolol Given After Trauma Memory Activation
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2010-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of propranolol
combined with trauma memory reactivation, to determination if this approach is effective in
treating PTSD symptoms. Participants will include male and female combat Veterans of the
Afghanistan and Iraqi wars meeting DSM-IV criteria for chronic PTSD, recruited locally from
the Manchester VAMC Mental Hygiene Clinic or through advertising. The presence of PTSD will
be assessed using the CAPS. Participants will be randomly assigned to the propranolol or
placebo drug condition. During each of six memory reactivation sessions, the participant will
meet with a psychiatrist, who will ask the participant to spend ten minutes describing the
event that caused their PTSD, and their reactions to it. The interviewer will facilitate this
process by asking questions, keeping the participant focused on the traumatic event and
encouraging him/her to identify aspects of the traumatic event that continue to provoke
emotional distress. The traumatic memory reactivation will be immediately followed by
administration of propranolol or placebo. Following the six treatment sessions, script-driven
imagery will be used to assess HR, SC, and facial EMG responses to recollections of the
traumatic event and PTSD symptoms will be assessed using the CAPS. A previously developed
discriminant function will be used to classify each person as a physiologic "responder" or
"non-responder." There will also be a 6-month follow-up assessment.