Repeated cortisol administration does not reduce intrusive memories - A double blind placebo controlled experimental study
Abstract
PTSD is a severe mental disorder, which may develop after exposure to traumatic events and is characterized by intrusive memories. Intrusions are sudden brief sensory memories of the traumatic event, that cause immense distress and impairment in every day functioning. Thus, the reduction of intrusive memories is one of the main aims of PTSD therapy. Recently, the glucocorticoid cortisol has been proposed as a pharmacological option to reduce intrusive memories, because cortisol is known to have memory retrieval inhibiting effects. However, the research on the effects of cortisol administration on intrusive memories is not conclusive. The aim of the present study was to examine if repeated cortisol administration inhibits intrusions and recognition memory in an experimental study using the trauma film paradigm. In a randomized double-blind placebo controlled design participants were exposed to a traumatic film (known to induce intrusions in healthy participants) and received either a low dose of cortisol (20mg) or placebo on the three days following "trauma exposure". Intrusive memories were assessed with an Electronic Diary and an Intrusion Triggering Task. Furthermore, we assessed explicit memory for the traumatic film clip with a recognition test. Contrary to our predictions, the cortisol group did not report fewer intrusions than the placebo group nor did it show diminished performance on the recognition test. Our results show that sole cortisol administration after a traumatic experience cannot reduce intrusive re-experiencing.
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The cortisol group did not report fewer subsequent intrusions than the placebo group.
“the cortisol group did not report fewer subsequent intrusions than the placebo group.”
From Intrusive memories of trauma: A target for research bridging cognitive science and its clinical application (2019) · cites this paper as Graebener, Michael, Holz, & Lass-Hennemann, 2017
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- Authors
- Graebener, A. H., Michael, T., Holz, E., & Lass-Hennemann, J.
- Affiliations
- Saarland University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Michael, Tanja
- ORCID
- Michael, Tanja
- Venue
- European Neuropsychopharmacology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-11
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1132-1143
- ISSN
- 0924-977X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2756109794
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 7
- FWCI
- 3.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- German Research Foundation (1457)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- cortisol, intrusive memories, post-traumatic stress disorder, glucocorticoids, recognition memory, trauma film paradigm, re-experiencing
- MeSH terms
- Psychological Trauma, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Depression, Double-Blind Method, Electrocardiography, Female, Galvanic Skin Response, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Memory, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Saliva, Recognition, Psychology, Young Adult, Visual Analog Scale
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