Low-dose cortisol for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder
- PMID: 15285979
- DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.161.8.1488
Low-dose cortisol for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder
Abstract
Objective: Because elevated cortisol levels inhibit memory retrieval in healthy human subjects, the present study investigated whether cortisol administration might also reduce excessive retrieval of traumatic memories and related symptoms in patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Method: During a 3-month observation period, low-dose cortisol (10 mg/day) was administered orally for 1 month to three patients with chronic PTSD in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design.
Results: In each patient investigated, there was a significant treatment effect, with cortisol-related reductions of at least 38% in one of the daily rated symptoms of traumatic memories, as assessed by self-administered rating scales. In accordance, Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale ratings assessed after each month showed cortisol-related improvements for reexperiencing symptoms and, additionally, in one patient for avoidance symptoms.
Conclusions: The results of this pilot study indicate that low-dose cortisol treatment reduces the cardinal symptoms of PTSD.
Similar articles
-
Glucocorticoid-induced reduction of traumatic memories: implications for the treatment of PTSD.Prog Brain Res. 2008;167:239-47. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(07)67017-4. Prog Brain Res. 2008. PMID: 18037019 Review.
-
Glucocorticoid-induced inhibition of memory retrieval: implications for posttraumatic stress disorder.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Jul;1071:216-20. doi: 10.1196/annals.1364.016. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006. PMID: 16891572 Review.
-
Cortisol has enhancing, rather than impairing effects on memory retrieval in PTSD.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2012 Jul;37(7):1048-56. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.002. Epub 2011 Dec 22. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2012. PMID: 22197003 Clinical Trial.
-
No evidence for differential dose effects of hydrocortisone on intrusive memories in female patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder--a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Oct;29(10):1077-84. doi: 10.1177/0269881115592339. Epub 2015 Jul 6. J Psychopharmacol. 2015. PMID: 26152322 Clinical Trial.
-
Cortisol augmentation of a psychological treatment for warfighters with posttraumatic stress disorder: Randomized trial showing improved treatment retention and outcome.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Jan;51:589-97. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.08.004. Epub 2014 Aug 13. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015. PMID: 25212409 Clinical Trial.
Cited by
-
Corticosterone after early adolescent stress prevents social avoidance, aversive behavior, and morphine-conditioned place preference in adulthood.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s00213-024-06616-7. Online ahead of print. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2024. PMID: 38805040
-
Exposure to war and conflict: The individual and inherited epigenetic effects on health, with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorder.Front Epidemiol. 2023 Feb 16;3:1066158. doi: 10.3389/fepid.2023.1066158. eCollection 2023. Front Epidemiol. 2023. PMID: 38455905 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Unveiling the Secrets of the Stressed Hippocampus: Exploring Proteomic Changes and Neurobiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.Cells. 2023 Sep 15;12(18):2290. doi: 10.3390/cells12182290. Cells. 2023. PMID: 37759512 Free PMC article.
-
Post-traumatic stress disorder: a psychiatric disorder requiring urgent attention.Med Rev (2021). 2022 Aug 2;2(3):219-243. doi: 10.1515/mr-2022-0012. eCollection 2022 Jun. Med Rev (2021). 2022. PMID: 37724188 Free PMC article. Review.
-
"The facilitator is not a bystander": exploring the perspectives of interdisciplinary experts on trauma research.Front Psychol. 2023 Aug 23;14:1225789. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1225789. eCollection 2023. Front Psychol. 2023. PMID: 37680237 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical