General Information
This study investigates the use of a novel medication, L-DOPA, during safety learning. L-DOPA is a precursor of dopamine and is an FDA approved drug for Parkinson’s disease, but it has not yet been approved for PTSD.
Who can participate?
You may be eligible for participation if you were assigned female sex at birth and are between the ages of 21-50 years old, have a current PTSD diagnosis (stemming from physical or sexual assault), are currently medically healthy, and are able to understand and speak English.
You may NOT participate if you have a history of: assaultive trauma without a diagnosis of PTSD, brain damage, seizures, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) or other developmental delays, have serious and unstable medical condition, MRI contradiction (e.g., magnetic metallic objects, claustrophobia) or if you are currently pregnant.
What would my participation involve?
Participation includes a phone interview, lasting roughly 30 minutes, to assess eligibility. In the event that you are eligible, participation includes virtual clinical interviews, questionnaires about mental health and behavior, and 2 MRI brain scans sessions at the Health Discovery Building. At the second MRI visit, we will additionally collect blood and saliva samples. There is no compensation for the initial phone interview. However, if you are eligible for the study, you will receive $255 for completing all study procedures which will take about 10-12 hours total.