Does activation of the endocannabinoid-systems prevent the formation of intrusive memories after traumatic experiences?

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Stefan Roepke; Professorin Dr. Katja Wingenfeld
• Subject Area: Clinical Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ; General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 427994993

Recent data suggest that the cannabinoid-system is involved in stress regulation and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic events. Low endocannabinoid signaling has been found in PTSD patients and might even present a precondition to develop PTSD after trauma. In consequence, increased endocannabinoid signaling during acquisition and consolidation of traumatic events might be a promising approach to prevent the development of PTSD. The aim of the current project is to investigate the impact of an activation of the cannabinoid system with an exogenous cannabinoid (dronabinol, i.e., delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) on the formation of intrusive memories after analog trauma.A well-established stress-film paradigm will be used to induce intrusive symptoms in healthy participants. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, the impact of exogenous dronabinol on intrusive symptoms during exposure to a trauma film will be examined. Two groups of healthy women will be recruited. The first group (N = 112) will receive 2.5 mg dronabinol orally and the second group (N = 112) will receive an oral placebo 120 minutes before the trauma film. Number, vividness, and degree of distress of intrusive symptoms will be assessed in the two groups for four consecutive days after exposure to the trauma film. A polygenic risk score assessing the risk to develop PTSD after trauma and genetic variants of the cannabinoid-system will be analysed. In addition, noradrenergic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activation (salivary cortisol and alpha-amylases) and changes in heart rate will be measured before and during exposure to the trauma filmThe primary hypothesis is that exogenous oral dronabinol will decrease the number of intrusive memories recorded in the four days following experimental trauma compared with placebo controls.This project will contribute to the current understanding of intrusive memory formation in PTSD and may guide the development of future pharmacological preventions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants