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Aripiprazole for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review
Sara R Britnell1, Anna D Jackson, Jamie N Brown
1*Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham; †University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill; and ‡Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC.
Clinical Neuropharmacology
|October 24, 2017
Summary
Aripiprazole shows promise for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), improving symptoms in most studies. While generally well-tolerated, further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition.
- Current treatment options for PTSD have limitations.
- Atypical antipsychotics are being explored for PTSD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the safety and efficacy of aripiprazole for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- To evaluate aripiprazole as both monotherapy and adjunct therapy in PTSD patients.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (1956-2017).
- Inclusion of studies evaluating aripiprazole's effect on primary PTSD outcomes.
- Analysis of 1 placebo-controlled trial, 4 open-label trials, and 1 retrospective chart review.
Main Results:
- Aripiprazole demonstrated significant improvements in PTSD symptom scores (e.g., CAPS, PCL-M) in most analyzed studies.
- Treatment durations ranged from 10 to 16 weeks, with flexible dosing (2-30 mg/day).
- Aripiprazole was generally well-tolerated; common discontinuations were due to anxiety, insomnia, and akathisia.
Conclusions:
- Aripiprazole appears to be a viable therapeutic option for PTSD, used alone or with other treatments.
- Larger, randomized controlled trials are necessary to fully establish the role of aripiprazole in PTSD treatment.
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