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Beta Blockers and Traumatic Memory: A Dulling Experience

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K. Smythe's picture

Studies have shown a link between commonly prescribed beta-blockers and the storage of strong, emotionally charged memories.  Taking beta blockers may allow one to dull the emotional trauma of an event by creating a less emotional memory experience.  This could create new treatments for disorders such as PTSD, however whether this is a good way in which to deal with traumatic events remains controversial (1).

            Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, or beta blockers, are drugs commonly used to treat high blood pressure, migraines, angina and heart problems such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and heart failure (2,3,5).  Beta blockers work by inhibiting the body’s normal sympathetic nervous system; they do this by blocking the binding of the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine (2).  This in essence calms the body’s “fight or flight” response.  There are two types of beta receptors, beta-1 and beta-2.  Beta-blocker drugs come in three “generations” the first is non-selective, blocking both beta-1 and 2 receptors, the second is slightly selective for beta-1 receptors and the third generation also blocks alpha-adrenoceptors giving it a slight vasodilator function (2).  In the heart where there are a number of mostly beta-1 receptors, beta blockers function to lower the heart rate, contractility and conduction velocity.  In the blood vessels beta blockers act on beta-2 receptors which play a role in vasoconstriction, however they have a less acute effect than in the heart (2).

            The formation of memories is a complex process which we do not entirely understand.  There are two types of memory: our short term memory, which is limited in capacity and temporally, and our long term memory.  Long term memory is made up of implicit and explicit memories.  Implicit memory includes our perceptual abilities, motor skills, etc. while our explicit memory is what we normally consider “memory”-our personal knowledge and recollections (3).  Memory seems to be enhanced by stress hormones.  Evolutionarily this may have been important for survival, so that we would not repeat dangerous or traumatic encounters.  Strong emotional memories seem to be tied to activation of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala by stress hormones during these experiences.  Whatever the reason, we find that the strength and significance of a memory is closely tied to its emotional relevance (1).  Furthermore, the emotional response which makes a memory “worth remembering” appears to be tied to the release of stress hormones during the event, as well as during its recollection (3).

            Beta blocker drugs appear to interfere with these strong emotional memories by interfering with the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine.  One recent study supporting this showed that administering beta-blockers affected the normal storage and recall of emotionally charged memories.  This study was comprised of four groups.  Two of these groups heard a neutral story which was illustrated with 12 slides.  One of the groups was administered beta blockers and the other a placebo.  The other two groups were told a similar story, again accompanied by 12 slides, with the addition of an “emotionally arousing” middle section as compared to the first story.  One of these two groups was administered beta blockers and the other was given a placebo.  Results showed that the beta blockers had little effect on the recall of the neutral story-both placebo and beta blocker groups scored similarly on their recollection of the story and associated slides.  However, recall of the emotionally charged story in subjects who were administered beta blockers was similar to those who were told the emotionally neutral story.  Their placebo counterparts, however, had a much greater recall for the emotionally charged section of the story (1,3).  Another recent study involved administering beta blockers to rats who have a learned fear response of a tone associated with a shock.  When the rats are given beta blockers after the tone starts they do not exhibit the stress response that was previously associated with the tone (4, 5).  It seems that beta blockers can dull the emotional stress response to a memory whether they are administered at the time of a traumatic experience, or during the memory of such an event which provokes a similar physical stress response to that which was experienced during the incident (3, 5)

Beta blockers are being looked at as an alternative treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  PTSD is a debilitating disease that affects about five million Americans at any given time-this means approximately 8% of the population will experience symptoms of PTSD at some point in their life (3).  PTSD is a disorder following a traumatic event that involves severe anxiety or hyper-arousal, reliving the event (often with a severe physical stress response), and emotional numbing (6).   Current treatment involves psychological counseling and exposure therapy.  These treatments only benefit approximately two thirds of patients and may be difficult and painful to undergo (5).  Beta blockers may provide an alternative means of treatment by dulling the emotional memory of a trauma and reducing the physical anxiety that is associated with the memory (3, 5).  Clinical trials having involved the administration of beta blockers versus placebo to emergency room patients post trauma.  Of those who were administered beta blockers none have experienced a physically stressful reaction in response to the recreation of the traumatic event versus the placebo group where six out of fourteen experienced a physical stress reaction (3).  Another clinical trial involved PTSD patients who were administered beta blockers at the onset of symptoms (for example heightened heart rate, or changes in breath patterns), however data is still forthcoming due to the small number of subjects (5).  Overall, clinical trials are ongoing and as of yet are not yet extensive enough for us to reach any conclusions.

Even if beta blockers would help to dull the emotional response of memories in PTSD patients, the question remains as to whether this is an appropriate thing to do.  Although PTSD is a debilitating disease, there may be something to be said for “working through” a memory.  There must be a reason for our emotional connection to certain memories and it seems entirely possible that this is important to the formation of our selves.  Could the administration of beta blockers to dull emotional or traumatic events actually stunt our personal development?  We do not know as of yet what, if any, the adaptive advantages of having strong emotional memories are, and we may not find out until we have gone too far in erasing them (1, 3, 4, 5). 

            It is also concerning to think about the implications of such a drug in relation to violence.  If such drugs were taken by violent criminals could it dull the emotional response and make their reactions to their crimes less negative?  The implications of beta blockers during war could also become a concern.  If the military were to administer such drugs inappropriately could they simply create desensitize soldiers and in doing so create hardened, and experienced killers rather than treat those who by some misfortune experienced a traumatic event (3, 5)?  The implications of misuse of any drug are frightening, however the possibility of a “loss of conscience” due to the loss of emotional memories is particularly alarming.

            As with any new drug treatment, many more clinical trials are needed before beta blockers can safely become a widely used treatment for emotional trauma.  Whether or not they ethically should ever becomes such a treatment is still a question we must carefully consider.  The question of whether or not these drugs will help to quiet a traumatic memory and whether or not doing so is harmful to our development is not an easy one, and may never be fully agreed upon.

    

 

References

 

1)         Pendick, Daniel.  “Unforgettable: Memory Research”.  Memory Disorders Project.  Rutgers        College.  2005.  http://www.memorylossonline.com/winter2005/unforgettable.html

2)         Klabunde, Richard.  “Cardiovascular Pharmacology Concepts: Beta-Adrenoceptor Antagonists (Beta-Blockers)”. 2007.

http://www.cvpharmacology.com/cardioinhibitory/beta-blockers.htm

 3)         LaFee, Scott.  “Blanks for the memories: Someday you may be able to take a pill to forget painful recollections”.  Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics.  11 Feb. 2004. http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/neuro/memory_drugs_sd.html 

4)         “Beta-blockers “Blot Out” Memories”. BBC. 28 Jul. 2005.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4722225.stm

 5)         Giles, Jim.  “Beta-blockers tackle memories of horror”.  Nature. 28 Jul. 2005.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v436/n7050/full/436448a.html

6)         National Center for PTSD: Fact Sheet.  US Department of Veterans Affiars.  30 Nov. 2007.  http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_what_is_ptsd.html

 

Comments

Serendip Visitor's picture

dulling the stressful memory

The writer is a surgeon and Board Certified in three other specialties and four fellowships, with over ninety percent of time involved in study of medicine and review of related subjects. To emphasize, this author is not a specialized in Psychology nor Psychiatry. The Board Certification include the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
This background is necessary presented to qualify the comments given below:
During the practice of Emergency Medicine, I have yet encountered a single case of BetaBlocker related Psychiatric Emergency. Although the Betablockers had only been widely used during the less than ten years of final period in the practice of Emergency Medicine, I must qualify my comment in light of this experience that the acute psychiatric breakdown is rarely related to the BetaBlockers.
For the Diabetes Mellitus coexisting with the hypertension, Ace-Inhibitor and Betablockers in addition to the Diuretics had been prescribed. Because of the possible 'masking' effect of hypoglycemia, the ACE-inhibitors were favored and switched to the Betablockers when the blood sugar had been leveled, without the fear of hypoglycemia. The experiences after near 12 hours of switched to the Betablocker enabled the concentration on the study, and as this writing goes, also started to improve on the initiative to write these subjects related to the Memory effect of Betablockers.
Above is presented here, for being an important experience

Serendip Visitor's picture

betablocker and memory

Switched from ACE-Inhibitor to Betablocker for the dose of 40 mg Inderal, 12 hours later, I notice the recall improvement, able to concentrate at the subjects at hand instead of being disturbed by the recent stressful events that might have caused the PTS (minimal/mild).
While the betablockers slows the heart beat and probably also relax at the sites of vasoconstriction, it might have increase the circulation to the brain at the site (?Amydala) and the Hyppocampus area where the permanent memory is stored enable the fascilitate of recalls, while the suppression of stressful event enable the concentration of recalls.

Anonymous's picture

When dulling memory might not be so good

From personal experience:

A person (not the person currently writing)is suffering from severe work related stress and begins to have a breakdown. The next day beta blockers are prescribed by the GP. 36 hours later the individual is in A&E and will shortly be an acute admission to a psychiatric hospital. During that 36 hour period the person seemed to come apart in ways that were highly suggestive of issues with memory, and, with that, meaning and identity. The person was searching their home for memories/information which they felt should be 'in their head' but were/was no longer there. None of this had been happening prior to the use of beta blockers. It was as if emotional memory was part of what was helping the individual to 'cohere' in the midsts of a serious crisis, but with that dulled, the crisis pretty rapidly became a near catastrophe.

Its good to see people at least discussing the psychological impacts of these drugs. Many medics seem to be unaware that they have any. But this experience leads one to reflect on the potentially harmful effects of their use.

Curiously, a paramedic on the way to A&E immediately expressed a view about the harmful effects of beta blockers ...

Anonymous's picture

PTSD Mental health vs legal rights

PTSD Mental health vs legal rights

In Texas, the legal rights to carry/own or obtain a license to have a weapon
is removed when you become mentally ill?

In Texas, if one spouse can have the other spouse comminted to a mental institute, the commiting spouse gets all, 100%, of the joint assets?

My PTSD is being rearended on purpose and no one helping you, having your tire slashed, having your horse beaten for 6 weeks, having people verbally attack you, having been lift in our home for years with gas leaks you can't get your spouse to repair, spouse withheld medical care porlonging illness which required surgery and loss of three organs and nightmares. diagnosis; servere situational stress disorder!

I couldn't afford the $200.00 an hour for psychologist or psychiatrist's nor
do I have insurance. So my IM/gp put me on beta blocker's for my high blood pressure which also helped to reduce the stress, save me money and kept my rights intact through my divorce.

I still had to take notes and keep a time line but the beta blockers definately help to reduce stress although my stomach is huge and I later developed an IgA deficiency. I'm having my telomeres and DNA tested for stress related diseases.

Paul Grobstein's picture

"dulling" experience

Raises two sets of questions. What does it mean, in terms of neurons and action potentials and boxes, to dull experience? Perhaps an answer to that would help with the second set of questions that you raise: is it a good idea to dull experiences? in general? in particular cases?