Short Course Glucocorticoid Treatment for PTSD

University of Wisconsin (UW)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Treatments: Drug: prednisone; Drug: placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00204737

H-2004-0039

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate if a 2-wk course of 20mg/day of oral prednisone in addition to standard care will result in reduced PTSD symptoms or symptom severity compared to placebo

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for PTSD w/ symptom exacerbation (CAPS score ≥ 50)
• Stable on other psychotropic meds x1 month

Exclusion criteria

• Current or past history of bipolar, schizophrenic, or other psychotic disorder
• Organic mental disorder
• Alcohol or substance abuse in last 3 months
• Clinically significant hepatic or renal disease or other acute or unstable medical condition
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, uncontrolled diabetes, rheumatologic diseases

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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12 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Prednisone

Active Comparator group

Description:

Prednisone 20mg daily x 2 weeks

Treatment:

Drug: prednisone

placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

placebo

Treatment:

Drug: placebo