title: Cortisol has enhancing, rather than impairing effects on memory retrieval in PTSD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study, we aimed to compare the effect of exogenous cortisol on memory retrieval in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the effects in healthy controls. In healthy participants, administration of cortisol impairs declarative memory retrieval. Only a few studies have investigated these effects in PTSD yielding mixed results.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a placebo-controlled crossover study, 44 patients with PTSD and 65 healthy controls received either placebo or 10mg of hydrocortisone orally before memory testing. In addition to declarative memory retrieval (word list learning), we also tested autobiographical memory retrieval specificity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both tasks opposing effects of cortisol on memory were observed when comparing patients with controls. In controls, cortisol had impairing effects on memory retrieval, while in PTSD patients cortisol had enhancing effects on memory retrieval in both memory domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest beneficial effects of acute cortisol elevations on hippocampal mediated memory processes in PTSD. Possible neurobiological mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Charité University Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. katja.wingenfeld@charite.de
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wingenfeld
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Driessen
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terfehr
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.forename: Silvia Carvalho
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Otte
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beblo
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Löwe
authors.forename: Oliver Tobias
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D006854:Hydrocortisone