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Fluoxetine in posttraumatic stress disorder
B A van der Kolk1, D Dreyfuss, M Michaels
1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Background:
This study was designed to establish the efficacy of the serotonin reuptake blocker fluoxetine in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Method:
64 subjects (22 women and 42 men; 31 veterans and 33 nonveterans) with PTSD entered a 5-week randomized double-blind trial comparing fluoxetine (N = 33) and placebo (N = 31).
Results:
By Week 5 fluoxetine, but not placebo, significantly reduced overall PTSD symptomatology, as assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score. Changes were most marked in the arousal and numbing symptom subcategories. Non-VA patients responded much better than VA patients. Fluoxetine was an effective antidepressant independent of its effects on PTSD.
Conclusion:
Fluoxetine is an effective pharmacotherapeutic agent for treating PTSD and its associated features, particularly in patients without chronic treatment histories.