Hydrocortison in Stressdosierung, traumatische Erinnerungen und Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung

Background: Traumatic experiences associated with cardiac surgery
(CS) can result in traumatic memories and posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Because it is known that subjects who develop PTSD
often show sustained reductions in circulating cortisol
concentrations, we performed a prospective, randomized study to
examine whether exogenously administered stress doses of
hydrocortisone during the perioperative period of CS reduces the
long-term incidence of chronic stress and PTSD symptoms. Methods:
Patients (n=91) were prospectively randomized to receive either
stress doses of hydrocortisone or standard treatment during the
perioperative period of CS. Of 48 available patients at 6 months
after CS, 26 had received stress doses of hydrocortisone and 22
standard treatment. Traumatic memories and PTSD symptoms were
diagnosed with previously validated questionnaires. Results: As
compared with patients after standard therapy, patients from the
hydrocortisone group had significantly lower chronic stress symptom
scores (p