Estradiol and Intrusive Memories (EstraMemo)

The Effect of Estradiol on the Acquisition and Consolidation of Trauma-Associated Memories

The aim of the current project is to investigate the impact of 3mg of oral estradiol valerate on the formation of intrusive memories after analog trauma.

A well-established stress-film paradigm will be used to induce intrusive symptoms in healthy participants. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, the impact of oral estradiol on intrusive symptoms during and immediately after exposure to a trauma film will be examined. The primary hypothesis is that exogenous oral estradiol will decrease the number of intrusive memories recorded in the four days following experimental trauma compared with placebo controls.

This project will contribute to the current understanding of intrusive memory formation in PTSD and may guide the development of future pharmacological preventions.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: PTSD; Trauma; Intrusive Memories; Intrusion Symptom; Intrusion
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Estradiol Valerate; Drug: Placebo

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 273
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Tolou Maslahati, M.Sc.; Phone Number: 0049 30 450 517 567; Email: tolou.maslahati@charite.de

Study Locations

• Germany
  • State of Berlin
    • Berlin, State of Berlin, Germany, 12203
      • Recruiting
      • Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
      • Contact: Tolou Maslahati, M.Sc.; Phone Number: +49 30 450 517567; Email: tolou.maslahati@charite.de

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy female volunteers
• German on B1 level

Exclusion Criteria:

• former or present disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5)
• any physical illnesses
• any medication intake (except oral contraceptive)
• history of traumatic experience, e.g. history of sexual abuse or rape
• pregnancy or lactation period
• intake of oral contraceptives
• follicular phase of menstrual cycle

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo before and after the trauma film paradigm	Drug: Placebo; Plabo pill
Experimental: Estradiol before the trauma paradigme; 3mg of oral estradiol valerate administered two hours before the trauma film (during acquisition of trauma associated memories)	Drug: Estradiol Valerate; 3mg of Estradiol Valerate pills, administred orally
Experimental: Estradiol after the trauma paradigme; 3mg of oral estradiol valerate administered immediately after the trauma film (during consolidation of trauma associated memories)	Drug: Estradiol Valerate; 3mg of Estradiol Valerate pills, administred orally

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of Intrusive Memories in the following four days after the intervention	Influence of estradiol on the development of intrusive memories measured with an intrusion diary	four consecutive days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Noradrenergic System (measured with salivary alpha-amylase - u/ml)	Influence of noradrenergic system measured with salivary alpha-amylase on the development of intrusive memories	Day 1
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (measured with salivary cortisol - nmol/L)	Influence of HPA-axis measured with salivary cortisol on the development of intrusive memories	Day 1
Estradiol and Progesterone	Influence of salivary endogenous estradiol and progesterone on the development of intrusive memories.	Day 1
heart rate variability	Influence of heart rate variability on the development of intrusive memories	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Katja Wingenfeld, Prof. Dr., Charite University, Berlin, Germany; Principal Investigator: Stefan Roepke, Prof. Dr., Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 19, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 29, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2026
• Last Verified: October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: estrogen; Estradiol; ptsd; intrusive memories; intrusion; Trauma film
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Wounds and Injuries; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Polycyclic Compounds; Steroids; Fused-Ring Compounds; Estrenes; Estranes; Estradiol Congeners; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Gonadal Hormones; Estradiol
• Other Study ID Numbers: EstraMe

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No