The Effect of Oxytocin on the Consolidation of Trauma-Associated Memories

Charite University, Berlin, Germany217 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

217

Conditions

Intrusive Memories PTSD

Interventions

OxytocinDRUG

Drug: Oxytocin nasal spray

PlaceboDRUG

Drug: Placebo nasal spray

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Locations (1)

Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Berlin, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change of Intrusive Memories in the following four days after the intervention

Influence of oxytocin on the development of intrusive memories measured with an intrusion diary

Time frame: four consecutive days

Secondary Outcomes

Noradrenergic System (measured with salivary alpha-amylase - u/ml)

Influence of oxytocin on the noradrenergic system measured with salivary alpha-amylase

Time frame: Day 1

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (measured with salivary cortisol - nmol/L)

Influence of oxytocin on the HPA-axis measured with salivary cortisol

Time frame: Day 1

Polygenic Risk Score

Influence of polygenic risk score on development of intrusive memories

Time frame: four consecutive days

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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