Trial of Hydrocortisone for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

NCT ID: NCT00706173

Last Updated: 2015-06-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

WITHDRAWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2009-08-31

Study Completion Date

2011-09-30

Brief Summary

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Developing novel and effective pharmacologic interventions for this post-traumatic stress disorder is important. The investigators propose to replicate findings of an earlier published pilot study using low dose hydrocortisone as a treatment for PTSD. In order to do so in a more meaningful way, the investigators will conduct a larger but similar randomized double-blind placebo-controlled, cross-over design treatment study examining the use of low dose hydrocortisone (or placebo) for 4 weeks in combat veterans suffering from PTSD.

The investigators hypothesize that, as described by Aerni et al. (2004), administration of daily hydrocortisone will lead to a reduction in PTSD symptom severity, but particularly for re-experiencing types (e.g., flashbacks, nightmares)of symptoms. The investigators also hope to examine potential predictors and moderators of treatment response based on subjects' clinical characteristics, as well as serum cortisol and ACTH levels.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Hydrocortisone

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Hydrocortisone

Intervention Type DRUG

Hydrocortisone 10-20 mg PO daily for 4 weeks.

Placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo "10-20 mg" PO daily for 4 weeks.

Interventions

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Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone 10-20 mg PO daily for 4 weeks.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

Placebo "10-20 mg" PO daily for 4 weeks.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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cortisol

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Male military veterans
* Between the ages of 18-65 years old
* Generally good medical health with no clinically significant abnormalities on physical examination, electrocardiogram, or laboratory findings
* Ability to provide informed consent and comply with requirements of study protocol
* No specific contraindications to hydrocortisone
* Clinically predominant DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD
* Score of ≥ 40 on Clinician Administered PTSD Scale \[CAPS\]

Exclusion Criteria

* History of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, seizure or organic mental illness
* Lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, other psychotic disorder, or depression with a score of ≥ 16 on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Hamilton, 1960), active suicidal ideation
* Unstable medical illness
* Subjects undergoing any formal psychotherapy within 3 months of enrollment
* Subjects that meet criteria for substance dependence during the last 6 months
* History of adverse reaction to corticosteroids.
* Concurrent use of other psychotropic medication (e.g. benzodiazepines, antipsychotics)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of California, San Diego

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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University of California, San Diego

Principal Investigators

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Murray B Stein, MD, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Diego

Locations

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University of California, San Diego

La Jolla, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Aerni A, Traber R, Hock C, Roozendaal B, Schelling G, Papassotiropoulos A, Nitsch RM, Schnyder U, de Quervain DJ. Low-dose cortisol for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2004 Aug;161(8):1488-90. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.161.8.1488.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15285979 (View on PubMed)

Schelling G, Briegel J, Roozendaal B, Stoll C, Rothenhausler HB, Kapfhammer HP. The effect of stress doses of hydrocortisone during septic shock on posttraumatic stress disorder in survivors. Biol Psychiatry. 2001 Dec 15;50(12):978-85. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01270-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11750894 (View on PubMed)

Schelling G, Kilger E, Roozendaal B, de Quervain DJ, Briegel J, Dagge A, Rothenhausler HB, Krauseneck T, Nollert G, Kapfhammer HP. Stress doses of hydrocortisone, traumatic memories, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in patients after cardiac surgery: a randomized study. Biol Psychiatry. 2004 Mar 15;55(6):627-33. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.09.014.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15013832 (View on PubMed)

Olff M, Guzelcan Y, de Vries GJ, Assies J, Gersons BP. HPA- and HPT-axis alterations in chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2006 Nov;31(10):1220-30. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2006.09.003. Epub 2006 Nov 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17081699 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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http://www.veryshy.org

UCSD Anxiety Disorders Research Program

Other Identifiers

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071982

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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