Dr. Cecilia Hillard and Dr. Akirav Irit from the University of Haifa have been awarded a
grant from the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation to study the role of
endogenous cannabinoids in the mechanisms of fear memory formation.
The formation of a fear memory following a traumatic event is an important mechanism
for the subsequent development of anxiety disorders, such as posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). The consequences of exposure to trauma are affected not only by
aspects of the event itself, but also by the frequency and severity of trauma reminders.
Currently, effective medications for PTSD do not exist as the available drugs fall short
due to limited response, high remission rates, and tolerability issues. However, there is
a growing body of data pointing to a therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for treatment
of PTSD.
These studies will advance our knowledge regarding the mechanisms that underlie the
reactivation or persistent recall of fear memories which is knowledge that could lead to
better therapeutic approaches to the treatment of PTSD and other anxiety disorders.