Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-05 @ 11:25 AM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 9:07 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT00039715
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2008-03-04
First Post:
2002-06-06
Brief Title:
Effects of Hydrocortisone in Patients With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Sponsor:
National Institute of Mental Health NIMH
Organization:
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center CC
Study Overview
Official Title:
Effect of Hydrocortisone Infusion on Hippocampal Glucose Metabolism Neuropsychological Test Performance and Reexperiencing Symptoms in Patients With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2004-09
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
None
Brief Summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine whether people who develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD after a trauma have increased sensitivity to the effects of a stress hormone
Patients with PTSD have small hippocampal volume and deficits in hippocampal-mediated memory as compared to healthy people However it is unclear whether the smaller hippocampi are a consequence of PTSD or a risk factor for the development of PTSD Some researchers believe that people who develop PTSD have an increase in cortisol levels during traumatic experiences and that this could be neurotoxic to the hippocampus Others hypothesize that increased sensitivity of glucocorticoid receptors to cortisol regardless of the cortisol levels could lead to neurotoxic damage to the hippocampus This study will compare responses to a stress hormone in patients with PTSD participants who have experienced trauma but do not have PTSD and healthy volunteers
Participants will be screened with a medical and psychiatric interview physical examination blood tests electrocardiogram and an emotional intelligence evaluation Those eligible for the study will be asked to collect urine and saliva samples for 3 days Participation will also include blood draws a PET scan brain imaging an eye-blink test neuropsychological testing and other procedures
At another study visit participants will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan brain imaging questionnaires and other procedures
Patients with PTSD have small hippocampal volume and deficits in hippocampal-mediated memory as compared to healthy people However it is unclear whether the smaller hippocampi are a consequence of PTSD or a risk factor for the development of PTSD Some researchers believe that people who develop PTSD have an increase in cortisol levels during traumatic experiences and that this could be neurotoxic to the hippocampus Others hypothesize that increased sensitivity of glucocorticoid receptors to cortisol regardless of the cortisol levels could lead to neurotoxic damage to the hippocampus This study will compare responses to a stress hormone in patients with PTSD participants who have experienced trauma but do not have PTSD and healthy volunteers
Participants will be screened with a medical and psychiatric interview physical examination blood tests electrocardiogram and an emotional intelligence evaluation Those eligible for the study will be asked to collect urine and saliva samples for 3 days Participation will also include blood draws a PET scan brain imaging an eye-blink test neuropsychological testing and other procedures
At another study visit participants will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan brain imaging questionnaires and other procedures
Detailed Description:
Patients with post traumatic stress disorder PTSD related to combat or civilian trauma have been found to have small hippocampal volume and deficits in hippocampal mediated memory compared to the controls However it is not clear if the smaller hippocampi are a consequence of the extreme trauma and PTSD or a risk factor in the development of PTSD Researchers supporting the causal hypothesis have proposed that increased levels of cortisol during the traumatic experience could be neurotoxic to the hippocampus Several studies have confirmed an increase in levels of cortisol during stress However plasma and urine measures of cortisol in patients with PTSD are mixed with reports of increased decreased or normal cortisol The possibility that increased sensitivity of the Type II or glucocorticoid receptors to circulating cortisol could lead to neurotoxic damage to the hippocampus despite normal to low peripheral levels of cortisol has been proposed Furthermore increased sensitivity of the glucocorticoid receptor in PTSD could lead to stronger negative feedback inhibition thereby offering a mechanism for the paradoxical observation of lower ACTH and cortisol levels in PTSD Studies attempting to test the glucocorticoid receptor super sensitivity theory in PTSD confirmed the presence of increased number and sensitivity of lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors in patients compared to healthy subjects However there are currently no published reports investigating central glucocorticoid sensitivity in patients with PTSD A recent study in healthy subjects and Alzheimers disease demonstrated that central glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity can be measured by hydrocortisone mediated inhibition of glucose metabolism measured by positron emission tomography PET and 2-deoxy-2Ffluoro-D-glucose FDG We propose to evaluate the metabolic cognitive and behavioral effects of hydrocortisone or placebo administration in patients with PTSD subjects who have experienced trauma but do not develop PTSD trauma controls and healthy subjects
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
None
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?:
None
Secondary IDs
| Secondary ID | Type | Domain | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02-M-0209 | None | None | None |