BACKGROUND: In the present study, we aimed to compare the effect of exogenous cortisol on memory retrieval in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the effects in healthy controls. In healthy participants, administration of cortisol impairs declarative memory retrieval. Only a few studies have investigated these effects in PTSD yielding mixed results. METHODS: In a placebo-controlled crossover study, 44 patients with PTSD and 65 healthy controls received either placebo or 10mg of hydrocortisone orally before memory testing. In addition to declarative memory retrieval (word list learning), we also tested autobiographical memory retrieval specificity. RESULTS: In both tasks opposing effects of cortisol on memory were observed when comparing patients with controls. In controls, cortisol had impairing effects on memory retrieval, while in PTSD patients cortisol had enhancing effects on memory retrieval in both memory domains. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest beneficial effects of acute cortisol elevations on hippocampal mediated memory processes in PTSD. Possible neurobiological mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: In the present study, we aimed to compare the effect of exogenous cortisol on memory retrieval in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the effects in healthy controls. In healthy participants, administration of cortisol impairs declarative memory retrieval. Only a few studies have investigated these effects in PTSD yielding mixed results. METHODS: In a placebo-controlled crossover study, 44 patients with PTSD and 65 healthy controls received either placebo or 10mg of hydrocortisone orally before memory testing. In addition to declarative memory retrieval (word list learning), we also tested autobiographical memory retrieval specificity. RESULTS: In both tasks opposing effects of cortisol on memory were observed when comparing patients with controls. In controls, cortisol had impairing effects on memory retrieval, while in PTSDpatientscortisol had enhancing effects on memory retrieval in both memory domains. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest beneficial effects of acute cortisol elevations on hippocampal mediated memory processes in PTSD. Possible neurobiological mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed.
Authors: Sophie Metz; Juliane Fleischer; Matti Gärnter; Sabrina Golde; Moritz Duesenberg; Stefan Roepke; Oliver T Wolf; Christian Otte; Katja Wingenfeld Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2019-07-06 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Annegret Krause-Utz; Bernet M Elzinga; Nicole Y L Oei; Christian Paret; Inga Niedtfeld; Philip Spinhoven; Martin Bohus; Christian Schmahl Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2014-10-28 Impact factor: 3.169