The purpose of the study is to investigate effects of a natural, anxiety-reducing, stress hormone (allopregnanolone) on brain processes critical to PTSD recovery. Your participation in this research study may help researchers improve treatment approaches for PTSD.

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18-55
• Ongoing PTSD symptoms
• Not on daily psychiatric medications
• Willing to abstain from alcohol for 2 weeks and from nicotine, marijuana, or illicit drugs for 4 weeks before the research visits and throughout the study
• Generally healthy

• Once enrolled, this study involves:

  • 2 screening visits to determine psychological and medical eligibility:
    • Consent Process (~½ – 1 hour): occurs before the first screening evaluation (either remote or in-person)
    • Psychological Screening Evaluation (~3.5 hours): interviews & questionnaires about traumatic experiences, psychiatric & medical symptoms
    • Medical Screening Evaluation (~2.5 hours): physical exam, EKG, color blindness, hearing & cognitive testing, & urine, saliva & blood collection for medical, drug, nicotine, alcohol & pregnancy tests
  • For the Pharmacokinetics (PK) Studies, there are 2 in-person research visits scheduled 2 days in-a-row:
    • Day 1 (~9 hours): Intravenous (IV) allopregnanolone infusion, questionnaires, blood draws & memory testing
    • Day 2 (~3 hours): questionnaires, blood draw & memory testing
  • For the Main Studies, there are 3 in-person research visits scheduled 3 days in-a-row plus a follow-up phone/Zoom call about 1-week later:
    • Day 1 (~3.5 hours): questionnaires, blood draw, memory & startle testing
    • Day 2 (~9 hours): Intravenous (IV) allopregnanolone or placebo infusion, questionnaires, blood draws, memory & startle testing
    • Day 3: (~3.5 hours): questionnaires, blood draws, memory & startle testing
    • 1-week Follow-up (~45 minutes): questionnaires

Yes, participants will receive compensation up to $560 for your time. Transportation support or reimbursement may also be available.

There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.