Cortisol in the Treatment of Phobias

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2009-09-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The aim of this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study is to investigate if glucocorticoid treatment, in combination with exposure therapy, helps to reduce phobic fear in patients with phobia.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Zurich
• Collaborator: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
• Treatments: Cortisol succinate; Hydrocortisone; Hydrocortisone 17-butyrate 21-propionate; Hydrocortisone acetate

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female and male patients with a specific phobia (fear of heights) according to DSM-IV criteria.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe acute or chronic somatic diseases

• Psychiatric disorder other than specific phobia

• Topic glucocorticoid therapy (for large skin parts)

• Inhaled glucocorticoids

• Psychotropic medication

• Pregnancy