The Walking Wounded: Emerging Treatments for PTSD

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts military personnel and veterans.
• Current psychotherapies are effective but suffer from low treatment completion rates.
• Many veterans experience chronic PTSD symptoms despite existing interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent literature (last 24 months) on PTSD treatment in military personnel.
• To examine updated clinical practice guidelines from the VA and DoD.
• To contrast guidelines with current research and discuss novel therapeutic avenues.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of published studies over the past 24 months.
• Analysis of updated clinical practice guidelines (June 2017) from the Veteran's Administration and Department of Defense.
• Synthesis of findings to identify treatment gaps and emerging research directions.

Main Results:

• Psychotherapy remains a cornerstone of PTSD treatment, yet adherence is a challenge.
• Emerging pharmacotherapies target NMDA receptor antagonists, cannabinoid receptors, glucocorticoid receptors, and opioid receptors.
• Newer drug classes include anti-hypertensives, glutamate modulators, oxytocin, and agents for insomnia/hyperarousal.

Conclusions:

• Despite advancements, significant residual PTSD symptoms persist in the veteran population.
• Novel therapeutic strategies are under investigation to address treatment limitations.
• Future research directions aim to improve efficacy and adherence for PTSD management in military members and veterans.