title: Modification of Fear Memory by Pharmacological and Behavioural Interventions during Reconsolidation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dysfunctional fear responses play a central role in many mental disorders. New insights in learning and memory suggest that pharmacological and behavioural interventions during the reconsolidation of reactivated fear memories may increase the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. It has been proposed that interventions applied during reconsolidation may modify the original fear memory, and thus prevent the spontaneous recovery and reinstatement of the fear response.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated whether pharmacological (propranolol) and behavioural (reappraisal, multisensory stimulation) interventions reduce fear memory, and prevent reinstatement of fear in comparison to a placebo control group. Eighty healthy female subjects underwent a differential fear conditioning procedure with three stimuli (CS). Two of these (CS+) were paired with an electric shock on day 1. On day 2, 20 subjects were pseudo-randomly assigned to either the propranolol or placebo condition, or underwent one of the two behavioural interventions after one of the two CS+ was reactivated. On day 3, all subjects underwent an extinction phase, followed by a reinstatement test. Dependent variables were US expectancy ratings, fear-potentiated startle, and skin conductance response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differential fear responses to the reactivated and non-reactivated CS+ were observed only in the propranolol condition. Here, the non-reactivated CS+ evoked stronger fear-potentiated startle-responses compared to the placebo group. None of the interventions prevented the return of the extinguished fear response after re-exposure to the unconditioned stimulus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data are in line with an increasing body of research stating that the occurrence of reconsolidation may be constrained by boundary conditions such as subtle differences in experimental manipulations and instructions. In conclusion, our findings do not support a beneficial effect in using reconsolidation processes to enhance effects of psychotherapeutic interventions. This implies that more research is required before therapeutic interventions may benefit from a combination with reconsolidation processes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thome
authors.affiliation: Department of Theoretical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koppe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauschild
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liebke
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.|Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmahl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.|Faculty of Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bohus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004597:Electroshock / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D000069077:Memory Consolidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011433:Propranolol