Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) With Early Hydrocortisone Treatment: Pilot

Status unconfirmed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

In brief

People experience a wide range of outcomes following a traumatic event. Although rates differ depending on type of trauma, 20-60% of trauma victims may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, not all trauma victims develop PTSD. Previous research has found that trauma victims who develop PTSD excrete lower levels of urinary cortisol immediately after a trauma than victims who do not develop PTSD. Other research has suggested that increasing levels of cortisol may protect against the development of PTSD in patients such as yourself- but this has not yet been examined. Cortisol is a naturally occurring hormone in your body, and the present study is designed to test whether increasing cortisol levels can protect against or decrease symptoms of PTSD. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Participants will receive either hydrocortisone (20mg, twice per day) or a placebo (a sugar pill) for 10 days with a six-day taper. There is an equal chance of being in either treatment group, and neither the participant nor the experimenters will know which treatment was received (except in case of an emergency).

Key facts

Study ID: NCT00597857
Run by: Kent State University
People needed: 65
Starts: 2005-06-01
Expected to finish: 2009-11-01
Last updated by the study team: 2009-01-28

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

involved in a traumatic event and admitted to the level 1 trauma center within 12 hours after the trauma

You may not qualify if…

Glasgow coma scale score of less than 14 (at the time that you speak to patient)
Amnestic for the events during and immediately following the traumatic event
Unable to understand consent procedure or current substance abuse
Traumatic event occurred more than 12 hours before initial medication dose can be given (i.e., patient life-flight or transferred after significant time has passed).
Allergy to cortisol.
Pregnant or breast-feeding
Traumatic event of potentially ongoing nature that the participant is likely to be re-exposed to during the study (e.g. domestic violence)
Presence of injuries (e.g. pelvic or lower extremity fractures) requiring readmission for surgery 1-2 weeks later once swelling has diminished. Patients requiring such delayed operative procedures will be excluded.
Presence of medical condition that contraindicates the administration of cortisol, including (but not necessarily limited to) peptic ulcers, Cushing's disease, hypothyroidism, current alcoholism or cirrhosis, hepatitis, diverticulitis, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, myasthenia gravis, seizure disorders, renal insufficiency, disorders of immunosuppression, current viral or bacterial infection, diabetes mellitus, history of myocardial infarction, or recipient of solid organ or bone marrow transplant.
On a current corticosteroid regimen (inhaled, oral, or injection). This may include patients with asthma, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, allergic conditions, optic neuritis, or tuberculosis
Corticosteroid use in the previous 6 months
Current use of medications that may have potentially dangerous interactions with cortisol including other corticosteroids, any immunosuppressant medications, drugs affecting hepatic microsomal enzymes, cyclosporine, and anticholinesterase agents.
Injuries requiring treatment with steroids (e.g., suspected spinal cord injury, cerebral edema).
Patients must be able to take oral medications within 12 hours post-trauma.

Where it is running

Akron City Hospital — Akron, Ohio, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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