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Effects of dexamethasone on declarative memory function in posttraumatic stress disorder
J Douglas Bremner1, Meena Vythilingam, Eric Vermetten
1Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Radiology, Emory Center for Positron Emission Tomography, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta 30306 GA, USA. jdbremn@emory.edu
Psychiatry Research
|December 2, 2004
Summary
This study found that dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid, impairs memory in healthy individuals but not in those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This suggests altered glucocorticoid sensitivity in PTSD patients, impacting declarative memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to HPA axis and memory alterations.
- Glucocorticoids like dexamethasone can transiently impair verbal declarative memory in healthy individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of dexamethasone on verbal declarative memory in PTSD patients.
- To compare memory function in PTSD patients versus healthy controls under dexamethasone administration.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized study involving 42 participants (14 with PTSD, 28 without).
- Participants received placebo or dexamethasone (1 and 2 mg daily for two days).
- Verbal declarative memory was assessed using paragraph recall at baseline and day 3.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction between PTSD diagnosis and drug treatment was observed.
- Dexamethasone impaired paragraph recall in healthy subjects but not in those with PTSD.
- This indicates a differential effect of dexamethasone on memory based on PTSD status.
Conclusions:
- PTSD patients exhibit altered sensitivity of declarative memory to glucocorticoid regulation.
- This altered sensitivity may be due to changes in glucocorticoid receptors in brain regions involved in memory.
- Findings suggest unique neuroendocrine adaptations in PTSD affecting memory processing.