Of the medication classes , evidence of treatment efficacy was most convincing for the SSRIs .
In addition , medication was superior to placebo in reducing  comorbid depression and disability .
Medication was also less well tolerated than placebo .
A narrative review of the 3 maintenance trials suggested that long-term medication may be required in treating PTSD .
CONCLUSION Medication treatments can be effective in treating PTSD , acting to reduce its core symptoms , as well as associated depression and disability , and should be considered as part of the treatment of this disorder .
The findings of this review support the status of SSRIs as first-line agents in the pharmacotherapy of PTSD , as well as their value in longterm treatment .
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is a prevalent and disabling condition .
Evidence that PTSD is characterized by specific psychobiological dysfunctions has contributed to a growing interest in use of medication in its treatment .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of medication in the treatment of PTSD .
Comparison of nefazodone and sertraline for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is a prevalent condition that has been shown to be responsive to pharmacotherapy . Few head-to-head comparisons of medications used in the treatment of PTSD have been published . This 12-week , r and omized , double-blind study compares the effectiveness , safety , and tolerability of nefazodone and sertraline for the treatment of PTSD . Thirty-seven male and female out patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for PTSD were r and omly assigned to receive nefazodone ( maximum dose 600 mg/day ; average dose 463 mg/day ) or sertraline ( maximum dose 200/day ; average dose 153 mg/day ) . The primary outcome measures were the 17-item total severity score of the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale , Part 2 ( CAPS-2 ) and the Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale ( CGI-I ) . Other assessment s included the Davidson Trauma Scale ( DTS ) , the Top-8 PTSD Rating Scale , Sheehan Disability Scale ( SDS ) , Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) , Hamilton Anxiety Scale ( HAM-A ) , and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ( PSQI ) .  Twenty-six subjects had at least one post-r and omization CAPS-2 assessment and were therefore included in the data analysis . There were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups on any of the outcome measures . There was a significant effect for time in both groups , indicating an improvement in PTSD symptoms , depression , sleep , and quality of life over time . CAPS-2 scores for all of the PTSD symptom clusters decreased significantly over time . This study did not find significant differences in the effectiveness of nefazodone and sertraline for the treatment of PTSD . Larger trials are warranted
Of the medication classes , evidence of treatment efficacy was most convincing for the SSRIs .
In addition , medication was superior to placebo in reducing  comorbid depression and disability .
Medication was also less well tolerated than placebo .
A narrative review of the 3 maintenance trials suggested that long-term medication may be required in treating PTSD .
CONCLUSION Medication treatments can be effective in treating PTSD , acting to reduce its core symptoms , as well as associated depression and disability , and should be considered as part of the treatment of this disorder .
The findings of this review support the status of SSRIs as first-line agents in the pharmacotherapy of PTSD , as well as their value in longterm treatment .
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is a prevalent and disabling condition .
Evidence that PTSD is characterized by specific psychobiological dysfunctions has contributed to a growing interest in use of medication in its treatment .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of medication in the treatment of PTSD .