Women's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Research Study

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Completed

Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT01304940

CDA-2-042-07F

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between trauma and startle. The investigators are also looking at the effect of menstrual phase on this relationship.

Full description

The investigators are trying to understand if there is a relationship between the experience of traumatic events such as those experienced by people with post traumatic stress disorder and reactivity to startling noises or mild threats. So, the investigators are looking at startle reflex, heart rate, and stress hormone responses to short noises and small shocks in people exposed to trauma and who either do or do not have PTSD. Additionally, the investigators will be looking at how the menstrual cycle impacts these processes. The investigators know that women have twice the risk for developing PTSD and some research suggests that stress hormones change during the menstrual cycle and may have an effect on risk.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Women, ages 18-55 years old who have a regular menstrual cycle and who can come in to participate in the afternoon

Exclusion criteria

• Long-term medications, oral or steroid contraceptives, irregular menstrual cycle

Trial design

50 participants in 2 patient groups

PTSD group

Description:

Individuals in this group meet criteria for PTSD as defined by DSM-IV

trauma control group

Description:

individuals in this group do not meet criteria for any Axis I diagnosis as defined by DSM-IV