Neuroendocrine Risk for PTSD in Women

Summary

This study will test for effects of estradiol (E2) on PTSD symptoms and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) indicators of stress vulnerability, in naturally-cycling women who are not using hormonal birth control. Enrollment will be targeted to create three groups within two cohorts (early follicular phase and luteal phase): 1. PTSD: Women who meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for PTSD 2. Trauma-Exposed (TC): Women matched for age and trauma exposure severity but without PTSD 3. Healthy Control (HC): Women matched for age, but without trauma history or psychiatric disorder (self-reported) Women will be recruited through Grady Trauma Project (GTP), a large longstanding study of civilian trauma and PTSD conducted at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

Timeline

Start

2019-11-11

Primary completion

2025-04-30

Completion

2025-04-30

Publications

• Hinojosa CA, DelRosario D, Davis M, Roeckner AR, Oliver KI, Taylor L, Santos JLC, Dahlgren K, Ely TD, Zeleke H, Murphy AR, Merrill NA, Young MR, Braden AL, van Rooij SJH, Wallen K, Michopoulos V, Powers A, Nugent NR, Stevens JS. Cyclical alcohol craving is linked with estradiol-based modulation of ventral tegmental area functional connectivity and is blunted by childhood maltreatment. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2026 Jun 22:S2451-9022(26)00179-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2026.06.004. Online ahead of print.

Drugs

Indications