Post-traumatic stress disorder: emerging concepts of pharmacotherapy.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from a traumatic experience that elicits emotions of fear, helpless or horror. Most individuals remain asymptomatic or symptoms quickly resolve, but in a minority intrusive imagery and nightmares, emotional numbing and avoidance, and hyperarousal persist for decades. PTSD is associated with psychiatric and medical co-morbidities, increased risk for suicide, and with poor social and occupational functioning. Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are common treatments. Whereas, research supports the efficacy of the cognitive behavioral psychotherapies, there is insufficient evidence to unequivocally support the efficacy of any specific pharmacotherapy. Proven effective pharmacologic agents are sorely needed to treat core and targeted PTSD symptoms, and for prevention. This review describes current and emerging pharmacotherapies that advance these goals.
Baker
Dewleen G
DG
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive (0603V), La Jolla, California 92093, USA. dgbaker@ucsd.edu
Nievergelt
Caroline M
CM
Risbrough
Victoria B
VB
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines