title: Trial of trazodone for posttraumatic stress disorder using a multiple baseline group design.
abstract: Six patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) entered a multiple-baseline trial of trazodone, beginning with 50 mg/day and increasing to 400 mg/day until response was maximal. Total Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale scores decreased from a mean of 92 at baseline to 79 at end point, and self-reported PTSD symptoms as measured by the Davidson Trauma Scale paralleled these results (mean of 102 at baseline to 88 at end point). Based on clinician global improvement scores, four patients were rated as much improved and two were rated to be minimally improved. Improvement in social and occupational functioning, and depression was minimal. Available follow-up scores for PTSD symptoms indicated that gains were maintained. Sleep was the first symptom to improve at 2 to 3 months. No dropouts during the treatment period occurred, and reported side effects were quite low. These preliminary data suggest that trazodone may be effective in reducing the three primary clusters of symptoms of PTSD. These findings should be confirmed by using a larger sample in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hertzberg
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beckham
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014196:Trazodone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014728:Veterans
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014196:Trazodone