Gabapentin and posttraumatic stress disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To report the effects of gabapentin in a patient with concurrent depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and review the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in PTSD.


METHODS
A 37-year-old Latin American woman was being treated for major depression and PTSD. While the depressive symptoms were in remission, she reported a significant reduction in the frequency of her flashbacks after gabapentin was added to venlafaxine. She did not receive any type of psychotherapy. The flashbacks recurred after she discontinued gabapentin.


CONCLUSIONS
While the improvement reported by the patient may have been related to a placebo effect or spontaneous recovery, treatment with gabapentin may have played a role in alleviating the flashbacks. Other published reports suggest that AEDs have a beneficial effect on some PTSD symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
AEDs may be of some therapeutic value in patients with PTSD. Future controlled studies are warranted to investigate the effectiveness of these agents.
Malek-Ahmadi
Parviz
P
Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St., Lubbock, TX 79430-8103, USA. psychld@ttuhsc.edu
D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride