← Back to Search

Propranolol + Memory Reactivation for PTSD

Phase 4
Recruiting
Research Sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Must not have
Presence of drugs of abuse, including opiates, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, or alcohol at the initial assessment
Participant candidate does not understand English. This exclusion criterion is necessary because the procedures require a nuanced dialogue with English-speaking investigators.
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up follow up (week 11)
Awards & highlights

Summary

This trial will test if a memory-weakening intervention using propranolol can reduce PTSD symptoms when combined with a new technique to reactivate traumatic memories.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for men and women aged 18-65 who have experienced a traumatic event and show significant stress symptoms, with a PCL-5 score over 33. They must react strongly during baseline imagery testing to qualify. Exclusions include certain medical conditions like heart failure or asthma, low blood pressure or heart rate, drug abuse, pregnancy, other psychiatric disorders, current psychotherapy (except supportive), inability to understand English or give informed consent.
What is being tested?
The study tests if adding an unexpected element ('mismatch') when recalling traumatic memories with propranolol can better reduce physiological stress responses than standard memory reactivation alone. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the mismatch/propranolol group or the standard/propranolol group and undergo six weekly sessions of memory reactivation.
What are the potential side effects?
Propranolol may cause side effects such as dizziness due to lowered blood pressure, fatigue, difficulty breathing in those with respiratory issues, cold hands and feet from reduced circulation; it might also affect mood or sleep patterns.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
Select...
I do not use drugs like opiates, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, or alcohol.
Select...
I do not understand English, which is required for this trial.
Select...
I understand the study's procedures, risks, and can give informed consent.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~follow up (week 11)
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and follow up (week 11) for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Composite score of psychophysiological reactivity (comprising heart rate, skin conductance, and electromyography of the left corrugator muscle) using the Biopac system.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Mismatch reactivation conditionExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
The participant will recite their trauma narrative to the psychologist for 10-20 minutes. However, during each recitation, a "mismatch" condition, different for each session, will be added to the reactivation procedure by having the participant do the following (in order of sessions.
Group II: Standard reactivation conditionActive Control2 Interventions
The intervention will be the same for each of the six intervention sessions. The participant will recite to the psychologist the narrative they previously composed for 10-20 min. The psychologist will congratulate the participant for having succeeded in this task and advise them they are finished for the day.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Propranolol
2010
Completed Phase 4
~1290

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Massachusetts General HospitalLead Sponsor
2,993 Previous Clinical Trials
13,230,641 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Memory Reactivation Procedures Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT05853627 — Phase 4
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Research Study Groups: Mismatch reactivation condition, Standard reactivation condition
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Trial 2023: Memory Reactivation Procedures Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT05853627 — Phase 4
Memory Reactivation Procedures 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT05853627 — Phase 4
~28 spots leftby Jun 2025
Unbiased ResultsWe believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your DataWe only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials OnlyAll of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.
Back to top