Problem and Objectives: There is currently no pharmacological treatment for curing post
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The investigators will test whether propranolol when given
immediately after trauma evocation is able to decrease the strength of the traumatic memory,
and by extension, the severity of PTSD symptoms associated with that memory.
Hypotheses:
1. The subjects will show a significant pre/post decrease in PTSD symptoms.
2. Those gains will be maintained at follow-up.
Study Design: Open pharmacological trial.
Method: On the first visit (V1), the subjects will describe their traumatic experience in
writing and will receive the propranolol. A script describing this experience will be
constructed to be used in the subsequent encounters to elicit the trauma memory. A week later
(V2), before receiving the propranolol, subjects will be asked to read aloud their trauma
script while imagining it as vividly as possible for 10 minutes. This weekly treatment will
be repeated 6 times (from V1 to V6). A total of 6 doses of propranolol will be given. A
self-report measure will be used to monitor improvement in PTSD symptomatology on the
following visits: V1, V4, V6, V7 and V8 (3 month follow-up).
Statistical Analyses: A repeated measure ANOVA (pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up)
using the PTSD symptom score will be conducted.. Three t-tests will be performed to examine
simple effects. The alpha level will be set at p = .05 (two-tailed). Fisher's exact test will
be used to examine whether Ss still meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD at the end of the
study.
Clinical Implications: If this treatment is effective, a randomized controlled trial will be
launched. This treatment has the potential to become the first pharmacological treatment
designed to cure PTSD.