Clinical Research Studies

The purpose of this research study is to determine if taking a pill of estradiol (a form of estrogen) together with prolonged exposure (PE) therapy can improve PTSD symptoms in women diagnosed with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a mental health disorder that some people develop after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. People who have PTSD re-experience the traumatic event and feel the same fear and discomfort that they associated with the trauma long after the danger has gone. Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is a validated treatment for PTSD. Previous findings suggest that estrogen helps people learn not to fear things that they feared before. In this study, we want to see if supplementing prolonged exposure therapy with an estrogen pill increases the effects of the therapy. The use of estradiol is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat PTSD but experimental research like the present study is needed to test if it is beneficial. If you are interested in participating in the study, please email Behavioralneuroscience@nyulangone.org.