Ketamine to boost memory reconsolidation and fear extinction in PTSD
Official title: Using Ketamine to enhance memory reconsolidation and extinction of overgeneralized fear in individuals diagnosed with PTSD
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11195277 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Yale will test whether ketamine given around intensive exposure therapy helps people with PTSD learn to forget or reduce fear more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,488,158 |
| NIH project number | 4R33MH129559-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195277 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with PTSD who are suitable for intensive exposure therapy and can receive ketamine in a clinical setting.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with certain medical conditions or contraindications to ketamine, or those unlikely to complete an intensive therapy schedule, may not benefit.
What this research studies
People with PTSD often don’t respond quickly to existing medications or standard therapy. This project combines a ketamine treatment with an intensified, short-term exposure therapy to see if fear memories can be weakened and extinction strengthened. Researchers will monitor memory outcomes and PTSD symptoms to understand both the biological and clinical effects. If successful, this approach could shorten treatment time and improve outcomes for patients with PTSD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with PTSD may experience faster relief from symptoms and better response to therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Early research suggests ketamine may aid symptom relief; this study explores a targeted, combined approach in a specific PTSD population.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Ketamine to boost fear extinction and memory on PTSD patients
A study testing whether ketamine can help people with PTSD better relearn and forget fear when given in a guided treatment plan.
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Using ketamine to improve memory and reduce fear in people with PTSD
This study is looking at whether ketamine, a medication usually used for anesthesia, can help people with PTSD by improving their memory and reducing fear responses when combined with therapy, aiming to make treatment more effective and quicker for those who struggle with this condition.
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Understanding fear system wiring in PTSD and how brain myelin changes relate to symptoms
Researchers are studying how changes in brain myelin in PTSD might drive abnormal fear processing and connectivity to help guide new treatments.
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Understanding how the brain learns to avoid fear in PTSD patients
This study is looking at how the brain helps people with PTSD learn to avoid things that scare them and how this connects to overcoming their fears, using brain scans to compare those with PTSD and those who have experienced trauma but don’t have PTSD.
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Understanding how fear is learned and remembered in PTSD
This study is looking at how people with PTSD learn to recognize and remember threats, so we can create better treatments that help them manage their fears in everyday life.
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Cholinergic Brain Pathways in PTSD and Fear Extinction
We’re studying a brain chemical system (acetylcholine and a key receptor) to understand fear learning and PTSD better, with people who’ve experienced trauma.
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.