Why does cortisol enhance memory retrieval in patients with borderline personality disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder? Investigating the neuronal correlates of cortisol administration and the effects of stress exposure

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Katja Wingenfeld
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology ; General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: from 2008 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 82941376

We have recently shown that hydrocortisone enhances rather than impairs memory retrieval in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). In contrast, in healthy participants memory retrieval was impaired after hydrocortisone compared to placebo. The proposed studies aim to further investigate these findings and to understand the underlying neuronal correlates. In a first study, the mechanisms of enhanced memory retrieval after hydrocortisone in patients with BPD and PTSD will be investigated by fMRI. The second study consists of a more naturalistic design, in which a psychosocial stressor will be applied to investigate whether the memory improvement is also seen when both the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system are activated . Thus, two questions are addressed: 1) Which neuronal correlates underlie cortisol-induced enhancement of memory retrieval in PTSD and BPD?2) Are the positive effects of cortisol on memory also found after psychosocial stress?In a placebo-controlled study, the effects of 10mg hydrocortisone on brain activity, in particular the hippocampus, will be investigated in patients with PTSD and BPD and will be compared with those in healthy control participants. During the fMRI session, a declarative memory task (retrieval of a previous learned word list) and an autobiographical memory test will be performed. Effects of hydrocortisone on resting state brain activity and the neuronal correlates of memory retrieval will be analysed. In the second study, a psychosocial stress test and a control situation will be performed in PTSD and BPD patients as well as in healthy controls. After stress exposure, memory retrieval will be assessed. Furthermore, physiological markers of the HPA axis and the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system will be analysed. Both studies will contribute to a better understanding of altered stress regulation systems (hippocampus, HPA axis, LC-NA system) and their impact on memory processes in patients with BPD and PTSD. These studies may help to improve treatment options.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Christian Otte; Professor Dr. Oliver Tobias Wolf