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 .
Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder with amitriptyline and placebo.
Amitriptyline hydrochloride was compared with placebo in 46 veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder . Treatment continued up to 8 weeks , and efficacy was measured by five observer and two self-rated scales . Percent recovery rates were higher for amitriptyline than placebo on two measures . In patients who completed 4 weeks ( n = 40 ) , better outcome with amitriptyline was noted on the Hamilton depression scale only . In the group completing 8 weeks of treatment ( n = 33 ) , the drug was superior to placebo on Hamilton depression , Hamilton anxiety , Clinical Global Impression severity , and Impact of Event scales . There was no evidence for drug effects on the structured interview for posttraumatic stress disorder . Drug-placebo differences were greater in the presence of comorbidity in general , although recovery rates were uniformly low in the presence of major depression , panic disorder , and alcoholism . At the end of treatment , 64 % of the amitriptyline and 72 % of the placebo sample s still met diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder
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 .