Estrogen plus talk therapy shows promise for PTSD in women

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Female, 18-45 years of age 2. Chronic (at least one month post-trauma) DSM-5 FULL PTSD diagnosis OR subPTSD diagnosis (subPTSD defined as: meeting criterion A, F, G, H, and clusters B, C, and at least 1 of the clusters D or E.) 3. CAPS-5 Past Month score ≥ 20 4. Criterion A traumatic event 5. Stable medications for 3 or more months by the time of study entrance (with the exception of benzodiazepines) 6. Women on oral contraceptives, specifically those using monophasic or biphasic of first, second, third or fourth generation with up to 35mcg of ethinyl estradiol; OR using etonogestrel / ethinyl estradiol 0.120mg/0.015mg per day vaginal ring birth control; OR using the norelgestromin / ethinyl estradiol 0.150mg/0.035mg per day transdermal patch birth control. 7. Willing and able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of bipolar I disorder with a past year manic episode 2. Diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or psychotic symptoms that would interfere with the ability to focus on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in clinic, as determined by clinical judgment. 3. Diagnosis of moderate or severe substance use disorder that would interfere with the ability to focus on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in clinic, as determined by clinical judgment. 4. Cognitive impairment that would interfere with the ability to focus on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in clinic, as determined by clinical judgment. 5. History of neurological disease (that involves the brain), seizure, or significant head trauma (i.e., extended loss of consciousness, neurological sequelae, or known structural brain lesion). 6. Suicidal ideation with imminent risk that warrants a higher level of care. 7. Concurrent trauma focused psychotherapy 8. Pregnancy (to be ruled out by urine ß-HCG). 9. Metallic implants or devices contraindicating magnetic resonance imaging by interfering with patient safety or fMRI data collection. Cases will be cleared by the Principal Investigator and/or Baylor College of Medicine (Imaging). 10. History of breast cancer or hormone-responsive cancer. 11. Use of benzodiazepines 12. Self-injurious behavior that involves suicidal intent, requires medical attention, or occurs daily. 13. High risk of adverse emotional or behavioral reaction, and/or an inability to understand study procedures or the informed consent process, based on investigator/clinician clinical evaluation (e.g., evidence of serious personality disorder, antisocial behavior, serious current stressors, lack of meaningful social support)