title: A review of the psychobiology and pharmacotherapy of posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature on certain psychobiologic elements of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as they pertain to possible pharmacotherapeutic interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature pertaining to the neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and cellular elements was reviewed. As well, both controlled and uncontrolled studies of pharmacotherapy in PTSD were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature suggests that the stress response triggers certain neuromodulators with subsequent psychoneurological restructuring; that various antidepressants have been demonstrated to be effective for treatment of criterion B symptoms; that, to date, a single antidepressant has been demonstrated to be effective in a controlled trial for criterion C symptoms; and that, to date, in controlled trials, antidepressants and a benzodiazepine have proved effective for criterion D symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently, a comprehensive approach requires multimodel understanding and multimodal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fleisher
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kjernisted
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milanese
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009638:Norepinephrine