A Psychophysiologic Study of Weakening Traumatic Combat Memories with Post-Reactivation Propranolol
Abstract
The objective of this project is to test whether the beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol, given following combat memory reactivation, results in a significantly greater weakening of traumatic memories than propranolol alone, supporting the proposition that this weakening is due to pharmacological blockade of memory reconsolidation, rather than nonspecific actions of propranolol. We hypothesize that subjects who undergo script preparation for the combat event(s) that caused their PTSD, followed by (post-reactivation) propranolol, will show significantly smaller psychophysiologic responses during script-driven imagery testing one week later -- indicative of weakening of the emotional memory -- compared to those who receive (nonreactivation) propranolol two days prior to combat script preparation. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: post-reactivation propranolol or nonreactivation propranolol. Subjects randomized to the nonreactivation propranolol group will receive a "test" dose of propranolol, whereas subjects randomized to the post-reactivation propranolol group will receive placebo. Two days later, all subjects will return for an approximate 15-30 minute "script preparation" session, at which time they will describe the details of their traumatic combat event(s). Subjects randomized to the post-reactivation propranolol group will then receive propranolol, whereas subjects randomized to the nonreactivation propranolol group will receive placebo. Scripts will be composed using each subject's own words. Subjects will return to the psychophysiology laboratory 1 week and 6 months later. During each of these visits, heart rate, skin conductance, and corrugator electromyogram responses will be recorded during script-driven imagery of personal combat events. The hypothesis is that at each time period, the physiologic responses of the post-reactivation propranolol group will be significantly smaller than those of the nonreactivation propranolol group.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA508830
Entities
People
- Roger K. Pitman