Low-dose Cortisol in Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Inclusion Criteria: * Female and male patients with chronic PTSD due to adult trauma; PTSD is diagnosed according to the DSM-IV, as measured with the CAPS * Age between 18 and 60 Exclusion Criteria: * History of disease states representing contraindications to glucocorticoid therapy (tuberculosis, gastritis, gastric- and duodenal ulcers, Cushing's disease, osteoporosis, hypertension, pregnancy (to exclude with a pregnancy test) and lactation, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, thrombophilia, acute or chronic infections, hyperthyroidism, cirrhosis) * Severe or chronic somatic diseases * Topic glucocorticoid therapy (for large skin parts) * Inhaled glucocorticoids * Current psychotic, bipolar, substance-related, or severe personality disorder * Current severe depressive disorder * Severe cognitive impairment or a history of organic mental disorder * Evidence of PTSD or depression immediately prior to the index trauma * Prominent current suicidal or homicidal ideation * Asylum seeking status * Body weight \>20% above or below normal range * Changes in psychopharmacologic or psychotherapeutic management less than 8 weeks before start of the study