Allopregnanolone to help PTSD memories settle more safely
Official title: Facilitation of Extinction Retention and Reconsolidation Blockade by IV Allopregnanolone in PTSD
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11377436 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study is looking at whether intravenous allopregnanolone can improve how PTSD memories are processed after trauma-focused therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $470,739 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH122867-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377436 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with PTSD who are undergoing trauma-focused therapy and are eligible for IV medication studies.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who cannot tolerate IV medications or have contraindications to allopregnanolone may not benefit.
What this research studies
This research explores how a brain chemical called allopregnanolone, given through an IV, might boost the benefits of trauma-focused therapy for people with PTSD. The team will examine how this medication affects the brain’s ability to better remember and reprocess traumatic memories, potentially making extinction memories more durable and reducing relapse. Participants will receive the treatment during their therapy sessions and will be monitored for safety, memory changes, and PTSD symptoms over time. The goal is to create a more stable, lasting recovery by influencing brain processes involved in fear and memory. If successful, this approach could offer a new tool to improve PTSD treatment outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to more durable improvement from PTSD treatments and reduce future symptom flare-ups.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests neurobiological modulation during therapy can affect fear learning, but this exact approach is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rasmusson, Ann M. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rasmusson, Ann M.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.