Intrusive Memories, PTSD
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of the study is to examine whether oxytocin and certain polygenic risk scores affect the development of intrusive memories, a cardinal symptom of PTSD.
Interventions
DRUGOxytocin
Drug: Oxytocin nasal spray
DRUGPlacebo
Drug: Placebo nasal spray
Sponsors
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* healthy female volunteers * German on a native level
Exclusion criteria
* former or present disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5) * any physical illnesses * any medication intake (except oral contraceptive) * history of traumatic experience, e.g. history of sexual abuse or rape * pregnancy or lactation period * follicular phase of menstrual cycle for all women not using oral contraceptives
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change of Intrusive Memories in the following four days after the intervention | four consecutive days | Influence of oxytocin on the development of intrusive memories measured with an intrusion diary |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Noradrenergic System (measured with salivary alpha-amylase - u/ml) | Day 1 | Influence of oxytocin on the noradrenergic system measured with salivary alpha-amylase |
| Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (measured with salivary cortisol - nmol/L) | Day 1 | Influence of oxytocin on the HPA-axis measured with salivary cortisol |
| Polygenic Risk Score | four consecutive days | Influence of polygenic risk score on development of intrusive memories |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed