title: Sertraline, paroxetine, and venlafaxine in refugee posttraumatic stress disorder with depression symptoms.
abstract: Three new antidepressants were used in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of depression in Bosnian refugees. Thirty-two Bosnian refugees seeking treatment at a mental health clinic participated in a case series study. All received open trials of Sertraline (n = 15), Paroxetine (n = 12), or Venlafaxine (n = 5), with standard clinical doses. Overall, Sertraline and Paroxetine produced statistically significant improvement at 6 weeks in PTSD symptom severity in depression, and in Global Assessment of Functioning. Venlafaxine produced improvement in PTSD symptom severity and in Global Assessment of Functioning, did not yield improvement in symptoms of major depressive disorder; and had a high rate of side effects. Notwithstanding improvement of symptoms, all 32 refugees remained PTSD positive at the diagnostic level at the 6-week follow-up.
authors.affiliation: The Project on Genocide, Psychiatry and Witnessing, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Chicago Health Outreach, Heartland Alliance, 60612-7327, USA. smajkic@uic.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smajkic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weine
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Djuric-Bijedic
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boskailo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavkovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride