Evaluation of the efficacy of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in treatment of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder: a meta-analytic review of outcome studies.
A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the relative effectiveness of the broad-based treatments for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The analysis includes 13 pharmacotherapy studies and 12 psychotherapy studies obtained from a PsychINFO database search and a reference search. Studies of pharmacotherapy treatment efficacy demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in reducing PTSD symptoms, t (22) = -2.74, p = 0.01, d = 0.05. A random coefficient analysis supports this finding with significance determined at p < 0.001 for the fixed effects in the models. A limited examination of depression as a frequently comorbid disorder indicated pharmacotherapy also demonstrated a significantly greater decrease than psychotherapy in depression symptoms, t (15.77) = -2.26, p = 0.04, d = 0.16. Differences between treatments are discussed as potentially reflective of assignment to treatments and assessment techniques as well as therapeutic effects.
Stewart
Cheryl L
CL
University of Michigan-Flint, 303 E. Kearsley Street, Flint, MI 48502, USA.
Wrobel
Thomas A
TA
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D008890:Military Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents