The present study will examine whether administration of a beta blocker (propranolol) and cortisol (hydrocortisone) to a healthy male population during retrieval of emotional memories in healthy subjects will lead to long term changes in these…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Anxiety disorders and symptoms
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Memory will be tested on all three days on content, subjective emotional
experience and physical reaction (heart rate and skin conductance).
Secondary outcome
nvt
Background summary
Exposure therapy seems effective for part of the patients with posttraumatic
stress syndrome (PTSD), by reliving the traumatic events, which decreases the
emotions attached to these memories. Animal research has shown though that
emotional memories can also be affected by pharmacological substances, even
long time after experiencing a threatening event (i.e. fear conditioning).
Memories that are reactivated appear to be sensitive to change (the concept of
reconsolidation). Beta blockers and corticosteroids, medicines that are used by
people for a variety of problems, seem effective in changing fear reactions in
animals, long time after learning these reactions (Przybyslawski, Roullet, &
Sara, 1999; Yang, Chao, & Lu, 2005).
Study objective
The present study will examine whether administration of a beta blocker
(propranolol) and cortisol (hydrocortisone) to a healthy male population during
retrieval of emotional memories in healthy subjects will lead to long term
changes in these memories.
Study design
The present study has a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind
between-subjects design. Each participant will be tested for memory at
different 3 moments with a week between each session. During the first session
visual information is shown that consists of neutral and emotional components.
Memory is tested immediately after showing. During the second session the
research medication is administered after which memory is tested for the
material that was shown on the first session. On the third day long term memory
is tested again, to study the effects of the intervention on day 2.
Intervention
During the second session participants will get a single does of either 35 mg
hydrocortisone, 80 mg propranolol or a placebo.
Study burden and risks
The participant will have to come to the faculty of social science three times
for the study, lasting 1-2 hours per session (in total 4,5 hours). They will
get a single capsule that can contain a dose of hydrocortisone or propranolol
(or placebo). No side effects are expected with these single doses and we
estimate the risks of this study minimal.
wassenaarseweg 52
2333 AK Leiden
Nederland
wassenaarseweg 52
2333 AK Leiden
Nederland
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- Physically and psychologically healthy
- Age: > 17 and < 35
- BMI 19-25 kg/m²;
- males
Exclusion criteria
- use of medication
- use of cremes with corticosteroids
- diabetis
- high or low bloodpressure
- CARA
- Psychiatric problems now or in the past
- more than once fainted in the past year
- drug abuse (incl. alcohol and cigarettes)
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL15116.058.06 |