一項新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，創(chuàng)傷事件后短時間內(nèi)注射甾體激素可以降低受害人發(fā)展為創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙的風(fēng)險。
In the study, which involved 17 trauma patients, those who received injections of the steroid hormone cortisol within six hours of their injury were significantly less likely than those not given injections to develop PTSD several months later, the researchers said.
研究者稱，該研究包括17名創(chuàng)傷患者，均于創(chuàng)傷后6小時內(nèi)接受甾體激素皮質(zhì)醇注射，相對于未注射者發(fā)展為創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙的可能性較小。
The findings suggest there may be a "window of opportunity" immediately following a trauma during which action can be taken to prevent PTSD, said the researchers, who are now conducting a wider study.
研究者認(rèn)為，研究結(jié)果顯示，創(chuàng)傷后短時間內(nèi)可能存在一個“機(jī)遇之窗”，在這段時間內(nèi)采取一定措施可以預(yù)防創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙。研究者現(xiàn)在正在進(jìn)行擴(kuò)大的研究。
"One can think about it as the morning-after pill for PTSD," said study researcher Joseph Zohar of Tel Aviv University in Israel. Doctors call such precautions that are taken after the fact, such as the contraceptive pill ingested after sex, "secondary prevention."
“大家可以把它想象成創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙的宿醉片，”以色列特拉維夫大學(xué)的研究者Joseph Zohar 說。醫(yī)生稱這種事后采取的緊急措施為“二級預(yù)防”，正如性交后服用緊急避孕藥。
If the findings are confirmed, "this will be the first time that there is secondary prevention in psychiatry," Zohar said.
如果結(jié)果被證實(shí)，“這將是精神病學(xué)上首個二級預(yù)防，”Zohar 說。
The study will be published in the October issue of the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology.
研究結(jié)果將發(fā)表于歐洲神經(jīng)精神藥理學(xué)雜志10月刊。
PTSD and cortisol
創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙及皮質(zhì)醇
When people experience stress or anxiety, the body responds by releasing stress hormones, including cortisol. In the new study, Zohar and colleagues tried to mimic the natural response of the body by administering hydrocortisone, the pharmaceutical form of cortisol.
當(dāng)人們體驗(yàn)緊張或焦慮時，機(jī)體反饋性釋放應(yīng)激性激素，包括皮質(zhì)醇。在新的研究中，Zohar及其同事試圖通過給予皮質(zhì)醇的藥用制劑——?dú)浠傻乃桑M自然情況下機(jī)體的反應(yīng)。
The study involved patients who visited an emergency department after traumatic events, including car crashes and work-related accidents. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a single shot of hydrocortisone or a placebo.
研究中的患者就為創(chuàng)傷后就診于急診科的患者，包括發(fā)生車禍及工傷者。參與者隨機(jī)分組接受單劑量氫化可的松或安慰劑注射。
After three months, three of the eight patients in the placebo group were diagnosed with PTSD. After one month, one person who received hydrocortisone showed signs PTSD, and after three months, no one in the hydrocortisone group did.
三個月后，安慰機(jī)組8人中有3人確診為創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙。一個月后，氫化可的松給藥組1人出現(xiàn)創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙的癥狀，三個月后，給藥組無人確診為創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙。
Because the participants in the study had been in accidents of everyday life, it's unclear whether a shot of hydrocortisone would have the same effect on someone who experienced a different type of trauma, such as one related to combat, Zohar said.
Zohar說，由于研究參與者均為日常生活中出現(xiàn)意外，目前單劑量氫化可的松對其他類型創(chuàng)傷，比如打斗創(chuàng)傷，是否有相同的作用尚不明確。
Preventing bad memories
避免痛苦的記憶
It's possible people who are predisposed to PTSD have abnormalities in the way their brains release cortisol, Zohar said. By injecting hydrocortisone, the researches may be augmenting the stress response and thus helping to prevent PTSD.
Zohar說，易于誘發(fā)創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙者可能大腦皮質(zhì)醇釋放存在異常。通過氫化可的松注射可以擴(kuò)大應(yīng)激反應(yīng)，因此有助于預(yù)防創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙。
Cortisol also may act to prevent the formation of memories, Zohar said.
Zohar說，皮質(zhì)醇還可影響記憶的形成。
For people with PTSD, "the past is always present," Zohar said. "The individuals are haunted by their traumatic experience." Administering cortisol might prevent PTSD by not allowing the complete formation of memories of a traumatic event.
對于患有創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙的患者，“過去即是現(xiàn)在，”Zohar說，“他們被創(chuàng)傷的經(jīng)歷困擾。”給予皮質(zhì)醇可能通過抑制創(chuàng)傷事件完整記憶的形成以預(yù)防創(chuàng)傷后精神障礙。
Zohar said he and his colleagues are now carrying out a larger trial using hydrocortisone on trauma victims.
Zohar說他和他的同事目前正進(jìn)行一項將氫化可的松用于創(chuàng)傷受害者的大型試驗(yàn)。
