Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Research has largely shown that negative life events are better remembered than other events, and these negative memories contribute to the development of certain mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, and depression. This phenomenon is partly due to the release of stress hormones, specifically norepinephrine, during highly aversive events. Propranolol, typically used to treat hypertension, has been shown to decrease the emotional strength of these memories by blocking the release of norepinephrine during initial long-term memory formation (consolidation), and long-term memory reorganization (reconsolidation). The implications for trauma exposed and PTSD victims can be two fold. Not only will we be able to perhaps cure certain mental illnesses directly related to negative memories by reducing the emotional strength of these established long-term memories, we may have also developed a preventative approach by blocking the release of stress hormones during initial learning. To date, no study has examined whether propranolol's effects persist longer than 6 months. Hypothesis: Following a previous study conducted at our lab (Brunet 2010), the current study predicts participants who receive propranolol treatment will continue to show decreased PTSD symptoms as well as psychophysiological responding to traumatic scripts. Study Design: This is an open-label longitudinal design, which will provide a 2-year follow-up to a previously conducted open-label trial from our laboratory (see Brunet et al., 2010. In press) Methods: The participant's PTSD symptoms will be re-assessed using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Furthermore, psychophysiological responses to traumatic scripts will be recorded. Data Analysis: A within subjects ANOVA with repeated measures (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 2 year follow-up) as the within group variables will be conducted for the outcome measures (CAPS scores and Psychophysiological responding).