The goal of the present study is to investigate whether the blockade of NA-transmission by beta-antagonist propranolol reduces the common EMDR effects (reduced vividness/emotionality of emotional memories) in order to find out if NA-release (evoked…
ID
Bron
Verkorte titel
Aandoening
Propranolol; EMDR; eye movements; emotional memory; noradrenaline
Ondersteuning
Prof. Dr. Marcel van den Hout
Onderzoeksproduct en/of interventie
Uitkomstmaten
Primaire uitkomstmaten
The emotionality and vividness of recollected memories at pretest (baseline), posttest (after medication intake and each experimental manipulation) and after 24 hour follow-up measured with corrugator EMG, HR, SC, a VAS for emotionality, and a VAS for vividness.
Achtergrond van het onderzoek
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a widely used, effective psychological treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its core intervention is that patients recall trauma memories while simultaneously making lateral eye movements. It is largely unknown how EMDR works, however, much evidence has been obtained for the working memory hypothesis. This hypothesis comprises that both recalling traumatic memories and making eye movements (EM) tax working memory (WM), which has limited capacity. Simultaneously performing both tasks leads to a competition for WM, rendering the traumatic memories less vivid and emotional. When memories are recollected they re-enter a labile state and become malleable and, because of this, the traumatic memory is overwritten by the memory that is blurred by EM. Emotional material is better (re) consolidated than emotional neutral material, i.e., it is prioritized and is (re) consolidated more vividly and in greater detail. This is caused by the release of noradrenaline (NA). In EMDR emotional material is recollected and reconsolidated. Therefore, EMDR might work because of NA release, i.e., NA enhances the reconsolidation of the blurred emotional memories.
The goal of the present study is to investigate whether the blockade of NA-transmission by beta-antagonist propranolol reduces the common EMDR effects (reduced vividness/emotionality of emotional memories) in order to find out if NA-release (evoked by the emotionality of the memories) plays an important role in the blurring of traumatic memories during EMDR.
The proposed study will use a double-blind, placebo-controlled, experimental, repeated measures design, with medication group (placebo, propranolol) as between subjects independent variable, condition (recall + EM, recall only, no recall) and time (pretest, posttest-1, posttest-2) as within subjects independent variables, and VAS-rated vividness and emotional arousal, and physiological response (heart rate, skin conductance and facial electromyography (EMG)) as dependent variables.
Doel van het onderzoek
The goal of the present study is to investigate whether the blockade of NA-transmission by beta-antagonist propranolol reduces the common EMDR effects (reduced vividness/emotionality of emotional memories) in order to find out if NA-release (evoked by the emotionality of the memories) plays an important role in the blurring of traumatic memories during EMDR.
Onderzoeksopzet
Direct post-test and 24h hour follow-up.
Onderzoeksproduct en/of interventie
1. Propranolol 40 mg or placebo;
2. Memory recall + eye movements, memory recall only.
Publiek
Faculty of Social Sciences<br>
Dep. Clinical & Health psychology<br>
Heidelberglaan 1
M. Littel
Utrecht 3584 CS
The Netherlands
m.littel@uu.nl
Wetenschappelijk
Faculty of Social Sciences<br>
Dep. Clinical & Health psychology<br>
Heidelberglaan 1
M. Littel
Utrecht 3584 CS
The Netherlands
m.littel@uu.nl
Belangrijkste voorwaarden om deel te mogen nemen (Inclusiecriteria)
1. Passing the medical screening (blood pressure and heart rate examination, two-step test and interview);
2. Age 18-35.
Belangrijkste redenen om niet deel te kunnen nemen (Exclusiecriteria)
1. History of cardiovascular problems;
2. Liver or kidney disease;
3. Asthmatic disease;
4. Use of contraindicative medication;
5. History of psychiatric disorders;
6. History of neurological disorders;
7. Hypersensitivity to propranolol;
8. Pregnancy.
Opzet
Deelname
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In overige registers
Register | ID |
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NTR-new | NL3540 |
NTR-old | NTR3695 |
CCMO | NL41743.041.12 |
ISRCTN | ISRCTN wordt niet meer aangevraagd. |
OMON | NL-OMON40004 |