title: Extinction retention and the menstrual cycle: Different associations for women with posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: The propensity to acquire and retain conditioned fear responses may contribute to the risk of developing and maintaining posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic event. There is growing evidence that the gonadal hormones estrogen and progesterone are associated with how well women retain extinction of previously conditioned fear responses. Thus, sex steroid effects may contribute to the increased prevalence of PTSD in women. For the current study, 32 nonmedicated female trauma survivors with and without PTSD completed a differential fear conditioning task both during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle when estradiol and progesterone levels are low, and during the midluteal phase when estradiol and progesterone levels are high. Skin conductance served as the measure of conditioned fear. Women with PTSD, compared to those without, showed impaired retention of extinction learning in the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, the impact of menstrual phase on extinction retention may differ between women with and without PTSD. These findings raise potential considerations regarding the coordination of psychopharmacologic and trauma exposure-based treatments for PTSD with specific phases of the menstrual cycle.
authors: National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Suzanne L
authors: SL
authors: Pineles
authors: National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Yael I
authors: YI
authors: Nillni
authors: National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Matthew W
authors: MW
authors: King
authors: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville.
authors: Samantha C
authors: SC
authors: Patton
authors: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors: Margaret R
authors: MR
authors: Bauer
authors: Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California.
authors: Sheeva M
authors: SM
authors: Mostoufi
authors: Women Veterans Program, Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Megan R
authors: MR
authors: Gerber
authors: Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego VA Healthcare System.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Hauger
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University.
authors: Patricia A
authors: PA
authors: Resick
authors: National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System.
authors: Ann M
authors: AM
authors: Rasmusson
authors: Psychiatry Department, Massachusetts General Hospital.
authors: Scott P
authors: SP
authors: Orr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult