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New drug development for post-traumatic stress disorder.
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. jberlant@pol.net
Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs (London, England : 2000)
|March 11, 2003
Summary
Recent FDA approval of SSRIs for PTSD offers new drug development avenues. This review explores neurobiology, current drug trials, and identifies unmet therapeutic needs for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common yet under-treated condition.
- Previous research explored various psychotropic agents for PTSD.
- Recent US FDA approval of two SSRIs marks a significant advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review neurobiological abnormalities associated with PTSD.
- To summarize existing drug trials for PTSD treatment.
- To critically evaluate medication effectiveness and identify therapeutic gaps.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of neurobiological findings in PTSD.
- Analysis of open and controlled drug trials.
- Evaluation of major medication classes including SSRIs, antidepressants, neuroleptics, noradrenergic modulators, and anticonvulsants.
Main Results:
- SSRIs show promise, with recent FDA approvals.
- Various medication classes have been investigated with mixed results.
- Significant unmet needs remain in PTSD pharmacotherapy.
Conclusions:
- The landscape of PTSD pharmacotherapy is evolving with new SSRI approvals.
- Further research is needed to address the complex neurobiology and therapeutic gaps in PTSD.
- Optimizing treatment requires a critical evaluation of existing and novel therapeutic agents.