Clinical trial • Phase II • Psychiatry

HYDROCORTISONE for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Phase II trial of HYDROCORTISONE for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Overview

Trial Therapeutic Area
Psychiatry
Trial Disease
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Trial Stage
Phase II
Drug Modality
Small molecule

Key dates

Initial CTIS Submission Date
02-12-2025
First CTIS Authorization Date
17-03-2026

Trial design

Hydrocortison Hualan 10 mg tablets (oral) as test medication; placebo pills matched in appearance and over-encapsulated with the same capsule as the test medication. Hydrocortison product details: 10 mg tablets; dose unit mg; max daily dose amount 30 mg; max total dose amount 120 mg; max treatment period 4 (time unit code 1). Exact dosing schedule and randomisation details not specified in the provided record.-controlled Phase II trial across 4 sites in Netherlands.

Comparator
Hydrocortison Hualan 10 mg tablets (oral) as test medication; placebo pills matched in appearance and over-encapsulated with the same capsule as the test medication. Hydrocortison product details: 10 mg tablets; dose unit mg; max daily dose amount 30 mg; max total dose amount 120 mg; max treatment period 4 (time unit code 1). Exact dosing schedule and randomisation details not specified in the provided record.
Target Sample Size
196
Trial Duration For Participant
365

Eligibility

Recruits 196 Vulnerable population selected. Participants must be able to give informed consent; "Not able to give informed consent" is an exclusion criterion. Subject information and informed consent form for adults (L1_SIS and ICF adults redacted) available. No assent provisions for minors (study includes adults 18-65 only)..

Vulnerable Population
Vulnerable population selected. Participants must be able to give informed consent; "Not able to give informed consent" is an exclusion criterion. Subject information and informed consent form for adults (L1_SIS and ICF adults redacted) available. No assent provisions for minors (study includes adults 18-65 only).

Inclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Age: 18 to 65"}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Sex/gender: any"}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Proficiency in Dutch"}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Presented at ED as a result of a one-time incident involving injury as a result of an accident, physical or sexual violence or another kind of exceptional situation"}

Exclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Not able to give informed consent"}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Not allowed to take hydrocortisone"}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Psychiatric counterindications assessed through anamnesis"}
  • {"criterion_text":"- Practical exclusion criteria (e.g., no reliable access to telephone or internet)"}

Endpoints

Primary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- PTSD symptom severity at 3 months (T4) after the intervention, measured with the CAPS-5 score.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Measured with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) at 3 months (T4) after intervention."}

Secondary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- Status of PTSD diagnosis at 3 months (T4) after the intervention, measured with the CAPS-5.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Clinician-assessed PTSD diagnosis using the CAPS-5 at 3 months (T4)."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Self-reported PTSD symptom severity at 2 weeks (T1), 1 month (T2), 6 weeks (T3), 3 months (T4), 6 months (T5) and 12 months (T6) after the intervention, measured with the PCL-5.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Participant self-report using the PCL-5 at specified timepoints T1–T6."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Scores on the questionnaires assessing other outcomes (IDS-SR, EQ-5D-5L, AUDIT, ISI) and SAEs at T1 to T6.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Questionnaire scores (IDS-SR, EQ-5D-5L, AUDIT, ISI) and recording of (serious) adverse events across T1–T6."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Demographic data, scores on questionnaires (CTQ, LEC-5), wearable measuring heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), intrusion and sleep diary, saliva sample collected at intake, self-composed questionnaires.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Collection of baseline demographics, questionnaire scores (CTQ, LEC-5), physiological data from wearable (HR, HRV), diaries (intrusion, sleep), saliva sample at intake, and bespoke questionnaires."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Results of qualitative interviews with 20 participants of the trial","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Qualitative interviews conducted with 20 participants; results analysed qualitatively."}

Recruitment

Planned Sample Size
196
Recruitment Window Months
24
Consent Approach
Informed consent is required from participants (adult ICF available: 'L1_SIS and ICF adults redacted'). Participants must be able to give informed consent (those not able to give informed consent are excluded). Inclusion requires proficiency in Dutch; study documentation and public translations include Dutch. No minor assent procedures (min age 18).

Geography

Total Number Of Sites
4
Total Number Of Participants
196

Netherlands

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
11-03-2026
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
17-04-2026
Processing Time Days
37
Number Of Sites
4
Number Of Participants
196

Sites

Site Name
Diakonessenhuis Stichting
Department Name
Emergency Department
Contact Person Name
David Baden
Contact Person Email
dbaden@diakhuis.nl
Site Name
Amsterdam UMC Stichting
Department Name
Psychiatry
Contact Person Name
Christiaan Vinkers
Contact Person Email
ctis@amsterdamumc.nl
Site Name
Radboud universitair medisch centrum Stichting
Department Name
Psychiatry
Contact Person Name
Erno Hermans
Contact Person Email
erno.hermans@radboudumc.nl
Site Name
Stichting Viecuri Medisch Centrum voor Noord-Limburg
Department Name
Emergency Department
Contact Person Name
Dennis Barten
Contact Person Email
dbarten@viecuri.nl

Sponsor

Primary sponsor

Full Name
Amsterdam UMC Stichting
Organisation Type
Patient organisation/association
Country Of Registered Address
Netherlands

Third parties

  • {"country":"","full_name":"Dutch Brain Foundation (Hersenstichting Nederland)","duties_or_roles":"Monetary support","organisation_type":""}

Investigational products

Investigational Product Name
Hydrocortison Hualan 10 mg, tabletten
Active Substance
HYDROCORTISONE
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
ORAL
Route
ORAL
Authorisation Status
Marketing authorisation present (marketingAuthNumber: RVG 129641; prodAuthStatus: 2)
Starting Dose
10 mg (product: 10 mg tablet)
Maximum Dose
Max daily dose 30 mg; max total dose 120 mg
Investigational Product Name
Placebo pills will be matched in appearance and over-encapsulated with the same capsule as the test medication.
Modality
Other

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