Researchers have designed a study to test whether a single pill of hydrocortisone, given soon after a traumatic event, might help prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The medication would be taken within six hours of the trauma. The idea is based on previous research suggesting that early stress hormone treatment might help the brain process traumatic memories differently.
The study will include 201 people who come to emergency departments after experiencing trauma and report high levels of distress, panic, anxiety, or dissociation. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the hydrocortisone pill or a placebo pill. They will then be followed for 28 weeks to track their symptoms using standard PTSD assessment tools.
This is only a phase 2 trial protocol, meaning the study is planned but not yet completed. No results about whether the treatment works or is safe are available. The study's completion date is listed as July 2025. The researchers note that if effective, such a pill could be practical for first responders or military personnel to carry, but that remains a hypothesis until tested.